Maartin Van Hoorten

Maartin Van Hoorten is an Agnolian politician who currently serves as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Agnolia since 1952. He is the youngest politician to hold office in the government of Agnolia. Van Hoorten became the leader of the centrist Nurist Democratic Union of Agnolia in 1951, after his extensive campaign to bring Agnolian economy out of recession. He has been a staunch promoter of privatization and relaxed immigration laws. After his election as prime minister, he promised to find new trade partners and replace old ‘unjust’ treaties with fairer ones. During his first years as prime minister, he brought Agnolia closer to the west, signing mutual cooperation agreements with Arcasia and Lespia. He strongly promoted the free movement of people across Merkopa and increased Agnolia’s presence in the OMEC and Alliance of Nations. During Van Hoorten’s term, Agnolia’s steel production greatly increased and the volume of Agnolian exports to Western Merkopan countries doubled. In order to strengthen Agnolia’s economy and its independence, he started a new initiative to discover new natural resources in the Markian Sea. Following the discovery of oil in the territorial waters of Agnolia in 1953, he ordered the building of a massive fleet of oil tankers and drilling ships, while also increasing the investments on the Agnolian Navy. His quick expansion of the navy and the increased Agnolian presence in the Markian Sea has further deteriorated the country’s relations with Valgsland.