In December 2517, Martin Walshingham was succeeded by the young Sekowo-born Hiroshi Tanahashi who was known as a New Trotskyist. There were rumblings both on the inside and outside that even he would not be able to save the party from Walsingham's disastrous leadership. During the next elections of 2518 and 2522 the party lost 7% and 5% respectively. This came as a great blow to the party and to communism in Hutori in general. In the following elections of 2526 Tanahashi was able to reduce the damage somewhat by regaining just over 1%, but the destruction was done. Tanahashi was forced to abdicate in July of 2529.