Politics of Mava

The politics of Mava (officially the Republic of Mava; Mavean: Maava Yakiinaigaalu) takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy and republic. The political system is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of Mava, which delineates political power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. From this, an indirectly elected president serves as head of state while the Prime Minister of Mava serves as the head of government.

Mavean politics has emerged from the country's geographical, cultural, social, and historical influences. Political scientists have described Mava as a consociational state, with political cooperation across different social groups on the basis of broad consensus. Politics in the modern era have been influenced by the dominance of the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands, which has won every election since independence. The Political Congress of the Mavean Labour Movement (alternatively known as the Mavean Labour Congress) is the main alternative party and has served as the principal opposition party since its founding in 1946.

Despite the dominance of one party, Mavean politics is nonetheless characterised by comparatively loose party allegiances and a significant degree of cross-party cooperation on major national issues. Mavean political scientists Kaarava Tiigikavalak and Nalikit Kaatak have characterised the Progressive Party as a "broad church gentleman's club", with its pre-eminent position "by no means signifying the dominance of any particular idea or policy."

Executive branch

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Nua Kiuiáké	Independent	11 January 2023
Prime Minister	Kausánek Maláti	Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands	9 November 2015

Mava's head of state is the President, who is elected by Parliament after joint nomination by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for a three-year term. The role is largely ceremonial, although many political powers are vested in the office, exercisable with the advice of and through the Council of State. Amongst the powers of the president are the promulgation of laws; the supreme command of the armed forces; the summoning, prorogation, and dissolution of parliament; and the awarding of honours. In practice, the president acts in accordance with the elected government, limited to non-partisan representational duties. The incumbent President, Nua Kiuiáké, was elected on 11 January 2023.

The leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president, following a confirmatory vote in parliament. This vote is generally held on the penultimate Monday of May, giving time for newly-elected Members of Parliament to travel to Pa'a. Following parliamentary elections on 11 May 2023, the Progressive Party formed the 50th Government of Mava, with Kausánek Maláti appointed prime minister for a fifth term on 22 May following a confirmatory vote by parliament.

The government of Mava - the Executive Committee of the Parliament - has no independent executive powers in law, a unique situation amongst sovereign states. The constitution of Mava grants to ministers only those powers approved by the wider parliament, which cannot exceed those held by parliament. The Parliament Act 1989 further describes the powers of the government as being "granted by resolution of the whole Parliament" and which are "exercised by the relevant Minister(s) in accordance with the resolutions of the Parliament and of the laws passed by its Members."

Legislative branch

Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of the Republic of Mava. The constitution also vests limited legislative powers in the government, although this is largely limited to areas granted to it by laws passed by parliament rather than being independent of the legislative oversight. Parliament is where all laws are to be proposed and debated, and its approval is necessary for laws to be presented to the president for promulgation. The government is appointed from amongst the members of the legislative branch, and it is the duty of parliament to hold the government to account. Parliament is responsible for approving the formation of a government and may also remove a government through a constructive motion of no confidence.

Voters elect 45 members in single-member constituencies by universal sufferage according to the first-past-the-post electoral system. Elections are held every two years, although the president may dissolve parliament earlier and call for new elections. Parliament is unicameral. Until 1994, it was organised as a de facto bicameral body, with a "Grand Committee of the Parliament" responsible for a final review of all laws passed by the wider parliament and for presenting it to the president. The Grand Committee was appointed by the president along technocratic lines, with members selected for their knowledge and experience. Reforms in 1994 abolished the Grand Committee and ensured the equality of all members.

Political parties in legislative elections

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands	14,291	40.84	-1.21	39	0
	Political Congress of the Mavean Labour Movement	11,102	31.73	+4.33	15	+1
	Democracy and Renewal	3,755	10.73	-1.71	5	+1
	Mavean People's Party	1,921	5.49	-1.24	0	-1
	Independents	3,920	11.20	-0.17	2	-2
Total		34,989	100.00	–	61	0
Valid votes		31,989	98.49
Invalid/blank votes		491	1.51
Total votes		32,480	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		51,072	63.60
Source: Mavean Elections Office

Judicial branch

Office	Name	Party	Since
President of the Supreme Court	Pnának Qát	None	18 May 2018
President of the Court of Appeal	Kualátit Puagáyok	None	21 October 2017

The Mavean legal system operates as a common law system. The judiciary is independent, with the constitution forbidding political interference or the active participation of law officers in lawmaking (apart from in determining the legality of a law). Judicial power is spread across a hierarchical system of courts, with different levels dealing with different areas of law, different degrees of crime, and increasing seriousness of offences. The hierarchy culminates in the Supreme Court: the "Koreka'teikivuuni", whose judges are appointed directly by the President on the advice of the Mavean Law Society.

The Court of Appeal is a second instance court responsible for hearing appeals from lower-tier courts, and which exercises a supervisory role over all other lower courts. The court hear cases in its own right, but rather deals with appeals from lower courts. In the majority of cases, the Court of Appeal is the de facto final court of appeal, with the majority of further appeals to the Supreme Court not heard. The Supreme Court judges the constitutionality of laws passed by parliament and is responsible for interpreting the constitution and ordinary laws and regulations. When ruling on matters relating to the constitution, the court sits as the Constitutional Panel of the Supreme Court, with its decisions binding on parliament. Since the passage of the current constitution, the decisions of the Constitutional Panel cannot be overturned by parliament.

The Department of Justice, headed by the Minister of Justice, is responsible for the political administration of the legal system and judiciary. The minister appoints members to the Mavean Law Society on the recommendation of its existing members.

Administrative divisions

Mava is divided into 8 districts (Mavean: singular - rápaiut, plural - rápaiut'u). 7 of these districts are on the largest and most populated island, Naik'maké, with the islands of Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké constituting a single district called the Mavean Dependencies of Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké.

Each district, apart from Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké, has its own elected government, which operates through a form of direct democracy. Electors vote annually to elect a council. Leaders of the council are appointed by the council. Ordinances passed by the council are presented to residents at the end of the legislative year, usually in the first week of May. Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké are governed as a statutory local authority, with certain responsibilities overseen by a nationally-appointed governor.

Political and civic pressure groups

1. Mavean General Workers' Union (MHMW; Máva'muqtun Hianak Máhnakaat'át'u Waualata'ip)
2. General Assembly of Mavean Employers (KWMR; Káwnuhiu’akak Waualata'ip 'a Máva'muqtun Rákaikuu'át)
3. Assembly of Churches of God (KBL; Káwnuhiu’akak 'a Bálekap'u 'a Lowka)
4. Union of Fishermen (HMS; Hianak 'a Máhnakaat Siagak'át'ip'u)

International organization participation

UN

See also

• Politics of Mava
• Culture of Mava

External links

• Mava. The Global Factbook. United Nations