Election: Round 1 over with Buchanan-Hock on top with 47%

His bags were packed and he was ready to go. It's official: a stone's throw away from an early exit, it was expected that President Norton couldn't get out of Liberty House that easy. The departing chief now has to postpone the moving vans for another three days while Titulia goes to second round voting to decide who will succeed him.

Candidates Dennis McVicker (RNC) and James Inglis (CP) exited the contest polling second-last and last out of the dubbed 'field of four'. That crowd has narrowed to two with LRP's Renee Buchanan and Linardist Gregory Hock taking out the lead with a massive 47% of the vote compared with camper Will Wilberforce a good 19 percentage points behind on 28%.

Round 1 was put to bed with a startling admission from the Social Democrats. According to SDP leader Reformer, candidate Will Wilberforce has been on holidays since nomination. This sent LRP secretary Malinda Noble to the closest microphone to stick it to her liberal counterpart.

"On holidays? I suppose Gucci make chai lattes as well", Noble said dispelling the quote.

Meanwhile, the outgoing president called for cooler heads in comment.

"Look I've been where these two are now [Buchanan and Wilberforce] and I understand that it's going to take a while longer to sort through it", he said.

When asked what he thought of the Wilberforce vacationing during the contest, Norton was empathetic to the concerns.

"I admit that the holiday excuse does come across as somewhat disingenuous and I can appreciate how the citizens are feeling in taking the inactivity as disrespect. Busy or not - Mr Wilberforce is asking for the people to elect him to the highest civilian office in the e-nation", he said.

"His supporters might think that's appropriate but I would fall short of saying such opinion is reflective of the regular, active citizenry. A little humility on his part would go a long way and a simple apology for coming late to the game ought to fix it and quell the temperatures a little. He's a good guy deep down I'm sure and he would understand that".

The election continues. Stay tuned at the Express.