Politics of Nidwalden

The Politics of Nidwalden take place within the framework of a parliamentary, representative democracy and a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch of Nidwalden, the Grand Duke Wilhelm II, is head of state and the Prime Minister, Charlotte Mann the head of government. Nidwalden is widely known for having one of the most transparent democracies and large respect for the freedom of speech and expression, as well as an international recognition for having a culture of serious politics in which parties seek common striving for broad consensus on important issues.

Executive power is exercised by the cabinet of Nidwalden, which is elected and presided by the Prime Minister, although during cabinet meetings, Ministers and Prime Minister hold equal power. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of Nidwalden (Nidwaldeser Parlament), a unicameral legislature whose seat is in the capital city of Cologne. The judiciary power is structured hierarchically with the Supreme Court at the apex followed by the District Courts in each county, members are nominated by the executive and formally appointed by the monarch.

Nidwalden has a multi-party system, however, since the twentieth century there has been two leading parties; during the first years of the century Rechte and the Nationalist Party used to lead the political scene but since the first left-wing government in 1951, Social Democrats have gained the attention of the population being today, the second main party of Nidwalden with the Rechte. There are significant minor parties that create a wide range of options during elections and hold more power in local elections like the Green Party (Grüne Partei) and the liberals Die Demokraten, that held power between 1986 and 1990. Since the early twentieth century, Nidwalden has gone through the introduction of a Nidwaldester welfare state and the 9 April 1920 leaders of all the parties signed the Sankt Moritz Agreement, since then, politicians have opted for co-operation to reach concensus on national issues and the protection of the welfare state.

The democratic culture of Nidwalden is seen on the direct democracy mechanisms of which the Government and the population relies on. Mandatory referendum and optional referendum exist for changes on the constitution and on laws respectively and in addition, people can ask for referendums to impulse laws on Parliament. Political institutions enjoy a large satisfaction from the Nidwaldester people and these are widely recognised as some of the most transparent in Lorecia and Astyria.

Democratic culture

Speaker at the speakers' corner of the Bergedorf Park, Colgone (1947).

The Nidwaldester Constitution was signed on the 24th of July, 1815 and was seen as a regional model that included the recognition of Human Rights, freedom of speech and expression and freedom of religion, the Constitution of 1815 also describes the Grand Duchy as a constitutional monarchy with a representative democracy, since then, power in Nidwalden has been divided between the Monarch and the Prime Minister besides of having the three branches of power. Over the years, Nidwalden has progressed as one of the most tolerant countries of Lorecia and Astyria, granting many times asylum to persecuted religious minorities during the nineteenth and to political refugees during the twentieth century. Open discussions on parks and cafés are part of the culture of Nidwalden that tends to be socially liberal progressive in most of the political parties; extremes on the political spectrum are not widely accepted, however, there are minor far-right and left parties like Alternative and the Communist Party of Nidwalden. Its inhabitants enjoy a large transparency on the institutions and political system of their nation that often ranks at the top of several regional metrics.

The democratic culture of Nidwalden is impregnated by a humanist sense of social justice, often related to the Ludwigism and its connections with the anarchism. One of the traditional parties of the Grand Duchy, the Rechte, is heavily related with the conception of the Nidwaldester democratic culture since the early 20th century and the first administration of Ludwig Mann when the concept of Ludwigism was conceived.

Direct democracy

Landsgemeinde in Wiltz

Nidwalden is often regarded as a semi-direct democracy, counting with strong direct democracy instruments that are used by the legislative and executive powers in order to take final decisions on important issues of popular matter. The pure form of direct democracy exists in most cantons of the Grand Duchy and is usually called Landsgemeinde (cantonal assembly), however, larger localities have opted over the last years to switch the assemblies into a system of secret ballot for practical reasons.

Cantonal assemblies are usually celebrated in order to take decisions of local importance; at a national level, citizens have usually more power than in neighbouring representative democracies, at any moment and with justified arguments, citizens can propose changes to the constitution or ask for a referendum (popular initiative). Additionally, the legislative and executive powers can hold plebiscites and popular consultations, as well as changes on the constitution or polemic decisions. On an average year, from four to ten referendums are voted by Nidwaldesters citizens, the topics may vary between financial approvals, the implementation of a universal basic income system or a change in the constitution or foreign policy of the Grand Duchy.

Sankt Moritz Agreement

Nidwaldester politics are often studied as an example of mature, serious transparent and democratic politics in Astyria. Over the years, political consensus and dialogue has grown in special importance in the political system of the Grand Duchy, it is common for parties to seek consent on several issues that are of vital importance for the country; among the many agreements, the Sankt Moritz Agreements that set the bases for the Nidwaldester welfare state is often regarded as the largest and most important consensus in the political history of the country. The agreement was signed during the administration of Helle Johansen, a Ludwigist Prime Minister member of the Rechte, the agreement was signed by all parties with representation in the parliament and it has continuously been respected by new political parties.

For many political analysts, the Sankt Moritz Agreement has represented not only the consolidation of the welfare system of Nidwalden, but also the shape of the political scenery and public political opinion of the country in which Ludwigist and social democrat ideals have thrived throughout the decades and different administrations.

Government

Charlotte Mann, Prime Minister of Nidwalden since 1 May 2018.

The Government of Nidwalden is constitutionally conformed by the Grand Duke and the Prime Minister, however, the presence of the Monarch in the last decades has been purely ceremonial, being limited to the formation of the government but without interference in the decision-making. The ministers together with the Prime Minister form the Council of Ministers and meet weekly in the capital city, Cologne, to plan policies and take decisions in their respective fields. While the Prime Minister heads the meetings, he has equal voice with the rest of the ministers.

The current cabinet is presided by the Prime Minister of Nidwalden, Charlotte Mann from the political party Rechte, which was the most voted party during the general elections of 2018. The cabinet was formed shortly after her election and is composed exclusively by members of the party and two independent ministers that were selected by their professional activity outside politics.

Cabinet

Anders Samuelsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lorecian Cooperation

Marie Baum and the astronaut Thomas Schlegel are the only two independent members of the cabinet that were chose by their professional activities.

Cabinet of Charlotte Mann (2018-2022)
Political party		Rechte
		Independent
Position	Name
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister		Charlotte Mann
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lorecian Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lorecian Cooperation		Anders Samuelsen
Ministry of Education
Minister of Education, Research and Equality		Marie Baum
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Digital Development		Friedrich Althusmann
Ministry of Enviroment and Energy
Minister of Energy, Transport and Communications		Margot von Bendersnach
Minister of Environment and Climate		Guido von Nieuwenhuizen
Ministry of Defence
Minister of Defence		Frank Lühmann
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs		Marie von Kaulbach
Minister of Health and Prevention		Johann von Bernstorff
Ministry Employment and Social Security
Minister of Employment and Social Security		Martin Thyssen
Ministry of Economy and Finances
Minister of Economy and Finances		Christian von Ryssel
Ministry of Justice
Minister of Justice		Margaret Bennigsen
Ministry of Stockbreeding, Agriculture and Fishing
Minister of Stockbreeding, Agriculture and Fishing		Ole von Schlieben
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Minister of Cultural Affairs		Anne Theodore von Engelshoven
Ministry of Tourism
Minister of Tourism		Marianne ten Hoeve
Ministry of Science
Minister of Science		Thomas Schlegel

Elections

Nidwalden has a multi-party system in which the Rechte, the Social Democrats and Die Demokraten can be considered the largest and strongest parties, representing the centre, the centre-left and the centre-right respectively in the political spectrum. However, over the last decades, no single party has held absolute majority in the Nidwaldester Parliament, which has often led to political leaders of all the spectrum to hold dialogue and reach consensus.

List of political parties

Party Name		Party Logo	Coalition	Party leader	Seats in the Nidwaldester Parliament	Ideology
	Rechte		Government	Charlotte Mann	68 / 169	Ludwigism, Nidwaldester nationalism, humanism, social democracy, welfare state
	Social Democratic Party		Confidence	Annemarie Fitzgerald	58 / 169	Social democracy, democratic socialism, welfare state, lorecianism, progressivism
	Die Demokraten		Opposition	Henning Madsen-Mygdal	19 / 169	Nidwaldester Liberalism, conservative liberalism, welfare state
	Die Grunen		Confidence	Marie Schepeler-Lette	12 / 169	Green politics, socialism, progressivism
	Christian Democratic Party		Opposition	Hans von Löning	8 / 169	Christian democracy, conservatism, conservative liberalism, welfare state
	Nationalist Party	File:NationalischePartei.png	Opposition	Helle Habeck	4 / 169	Liberal conservatism, conservatism, agrarianism, economic liberalism