Frédéric Armand

Frédéric Armand
Chairman of the National Assembly
In office June 1st, 2010 – February 1st, 2024
Vice-Chair	Rosendo Navarro Daniel Tovar
Preceded by	Marianne Smith
Suceeded by	Britt Sheppard
Spox of the Movement
In office April 1st, 2002 – January 31st, 2024
Vice	Galvan Withers Rosendo Navarro Daniel Tovar
Preceded by	Desmond Martindale
Succeeded by	Daniel Tovar
Delegate from Bas-Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office May 1st, 1984
Personal Details
Born	March 5th, 1946 Laval, Bas-Canada, Valoria
Political affiliation	Movement

Frédéric Armand (born March 5th, 1946) is a Valorian politician who served as Chairman of the National Assembly from 2010 to 2024. From 2002 to 2024, Armand served as Spox of the Movement.

Currently serving out his fourteenth term as delegate, Armand has represented Bas-Canada in the Assembly since 1984, making him the longest serving assemblyman. With a tenure of nearly fourteen years, he is also the longest serving Chairman of the Assembly in Valorian history.

In addition to his offices in relation to the Assembly, Armand has served as Chairman of the Movement since 2014.

In early 2023, Armand announced a run for a fourteenth term, however noted his intention to step down as Chairman and Spox, instead taking a on a more advisory role in preparation for full retirement.

Delegacy (1984 - present)

Chairman of the Assembly (2010 - present)

14th term and future (2024-)

In early 2023, Armand announced his intentions to seek a fourteenth and final term to the Assembly. He announced that he would also step down from the spoxship after the elections, only serving out a final term to help advise the new leadership and transition into the Progressive Party's next era. Although denied by Armand, some suspected he was preparing to challenge Arthur Reinhardt in a run for prime minister.

Chairman of the Progressive Party (2014 - present)

Succession & Dispute with Anthony Collins (2014 - 2015)

As an aging Nathan Crawford prepared to step down from the chairmanship, Anthony Collins, the incumbent prime minister, sitting vice-chair, and son of one of Crawford's most trusted allies, was widely expected to be his successor. Crawford, however, instead chose Armand to succeed him, citing his ability to lead the Assembly as indicative of his ability to lead the Progressive Party as a whole.

Influence, Reputation and Legacy

Reputation

Having served as spox for over two decades, Armand is regarded as one of the most influential people in Valoria. Chairman of the Assembly for nearly a decade and a half, and Chair of the Progressive Party for nearly a decade, Armand holds extensive influence over both the Assembly and his own party.

Some have criticized him as an autarch, especially amongst the Progressive Party, even to the point of being nicknamed "the real prime minister."

Influence over the Executive Mansion

Throughout his years as Chairman, Armand has repeatedly been accused of wielding abnormal amounts of influence over the prime minister. Throughout his tenure as Chairman, Armand has always served with fellow progressives in the West Wing, although he has served alongside both Movement and Conference presidents

Second Republic

The Second Republic ushered in a new era of Valorian politics, although some officeholders remained the same. The most high-profile of these officeholders were Armand and Anthony Collins, who remained as chairman and prime minister, respectively. Fellow progressive Lawrence Jackson became Valoria's first president. Armand and Collins' relationship did not improve, whilst Armand viewed Jackson, a man with no prior political experience and who was 12 when Armand was first elected to the Assembly, as a junior partner in Movement leadership.

Both Collins and Jackson tended to hold negative views of Armand, however remained friendly as he was an important ally in the legislature.

Armand's relationship with PM Collins noticeably deteriorated when Armand was selected to succeed Nathan Crawford as chairman of the Movement over Collins, the incumbent prime minister and vice-chair. Collins publicly accused him of usurping power, defying his selection and declaring him illegitimate. A little over a year later, Collins was removed as vice-chair, and not given the party's nomination in the 2016 prime ministerial election. Many saw Armand as behind this, punishing him for insubordination.

Legacy

Armand stepped down from the chairmanship of the Assembly in 2024, and declared his intention not to run for re-election in 2026.

Armand has often been seen as biased towards his home province of Bas-Canada, giving outsized weight to members of his own province. Some consider Véronique Deschamps (M/8-BC) to be his true designated successor, and believe she was chosen in part because she comes from Bas-Canada.