Austeria

Republic of Austeria Official names Tethian: Republika e Austerisë Montesurian: Ripèblica Esteria Novalian: Republika Austerija Piraean: Δημοκρατία της Αυστρίας Dimokratía tis Afstrías
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Liberty "Libertate"
Capital and largest city	Kartha
Official languages	Tethian (Çuk Kolm)
Recognised national languages	Montsurian Novalian Piraean
Ethnic groups (2020)	51.5% Tethian 20.3% Montsurians 12.1% Novalian 7.6% Piraean 5.1% Coian 2.0% Etrurians 1.4% Other
Religion (2020)	50% Sotirianity — 17% Apolitan — 15% Catholic — 15% Episemialist — 3% Other Sotirian 44% Irfanic — 38% Galenic — 6% Other 3% Non-affiliated / Undeclared 2% Atudism 1% Others
Demonym(s)	Austerian
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Nertilian Bushaj
• Premier	Alexandru Minovici
• President of the Senate	Xhuàn Patrè
Legislature	Senate
History of Austeria
• End of Arciluco rule	7th century
• Apolitan Kingdom	1431
• Annexation into Etruria	1789
• League of Kartha	1801
• Reannexation into Etruria	1854
• Independence from Etruria	1946
• First republic	1947
• Second republic	1990
Area
• Total	62,532 km2 (24,144 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 estimate	12,270,164
• Density	182.75/km2 (473.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$328.4 billion
• Per capita	$26,767
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$146.4 billion
• Per capita	$11,938
Gini (2020)	42.4 medium
HDI (2020)	0.850 very high
Currency	Austerian Flori (TRF (ƒ))
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+101
ISO 3166 code	AUS
Internet TLD	.au

Austeria (Tethian: Austerisë, officially the Republic of Austeria (Tethian: Republika e Austerisë), also known as Galenia, is a sovereign state located in southern Euclea bordered by Etruria to the north and surrounded by the Acheloian Sea to the south and west and the Solarian Sea to the east. Austeria's location at the southernmost point of Euclea and its proximity to Rahelia has contributed to the country's rich history and has shaped a complex national identity. Austeria has a population of 12 million people, which includes the largest Irfanic population in Euclea. The capital and most populous city is Kartha.

Historically, Austeria has been controlled by different civilisations over time, mainly the Piraeans, Solarians, Amathians, and the Etrurians. The first recorded settlements in Austeria was originally inhabited by the Gadishullorian tribes, but the first walled settlement was founded by Piraeans in the 5th century BCE, which would become the city of Kartha. In the 3rd century BCE, Irfan arrived by oceanic trade networks from Coius beginning its long influence in the region. Local states would be in regular conflict with Pirean city-states until it was conquered by the Solarian Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Under the Solarian Empire and its successor the Empire of Arciluco, the peninsula was a major center for trade from Coius. The Marolevic migration in the 6th century marked the end of direct rule by the Arciluco Empire, which was replaced by many Tethian and Montsurian principalities. During the Iconoclast Wars, the Principality of Senturèn took over the peninsula and established the Apolitan Kingdom. The Apolitan Kingdom clashed with Povelia until they were both were annexed by the Etrurian First Republic during the Etrurian Revolution.

The region briefly gained independence as a league of allied city-states in 1801 before it was reannexed by the restored monarchy of Etruria in 1855. However this brief period of independence sparked a national awakening known as the Austerian Renaissance, beginning a period of cooperation between the Tethians and Montsurians. The rise of the functionalist Greater Solarian Republic, led to the formation of a resistance movement led by Omer Kotta that fought for independence. Following the end of the Solarian War, the modern state of Austeria declared independence in 1946 as an Equalist socialist republic. The new Austerian state was relatively stable until the large-scale outbreak of social turmoil, political violence and upheaval from the early 1970s to the late-1980s marked by a wave of ethnic and religious terrorism and violent clashes. The conflict culminated with the Olive Revolution and the fall of Equalism in Austeria and eventually the signing of the Morwall Agreement and the establishment of the second Republic.

As of the current constitution, Austeria is a unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic with a President elected every six years as head of state. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Senate, led by a Premier, appointed by the President, who serves as as head of government. The country's political history since the end of Equalism been characterized by high ethnic and religious tensions, despite significant economic growth and the return of political stability. The country continues to face additional challenges such as corruption, poor diplomatic relations with Etruria and Zorasan, refugee crises, and interference by the security establishment in politics. The Austerian economy is heavily based in the service sector, international trade, and tourism. Austeria is considered one of the most visited countries in Euclea and the world due to its lush beaches and summer resorts. Other major sectors of the economy is agriculture, especially wine production, and beer brewing. The government has a considerable control on the country's economy, holding shares in key-sectors of the economy. Austeria is an active member of the Community of Nations, International Council for Democracy and the International Trade Organisation. The country is currently in the process of joining the Euclean Community.

Etymology

The two common names for the country, Austeria and Galenia, both originate from the same ancient myth. In the common mythos, Austeria was an island in the Acheloian Sea that drifted around the sea and posed a hazard to seafarers and oceanic life. In frustration Poseidon, the Piraean god of the sea, used his trident to affix Austeria to the Euclean mainland. In ancient Piraean mythology, the action settled the previously rough seas and led to the birth of Galênê, the personification of calm seas. The earliest attestation of this name is by the Piraean poet Argyros, during the 7th century BCE, when he referred to the western coast of Austeria, near the city of Halinos, as “the land of Galênê (Piraean: Γαλανεια).” The same myth appears in Solarian mythology, but instead the region was associated with Auster, the Solarian god of the south wind and one of the Venti (wind-gods). For millennia, Austeria was often the first landmass sailors saw while returning from voyages in the Acheloian Sea. Despite popular belief, the name of Austeria does not directly refer to its southern location but is instead derived from the wind god.

Both names are often used interchangeably, although Austeria is more widely used. Since the Austerian Renaissance, "Galenia" is often used to specifically refer to the coast and coastal islands of Austeria.

Government and Politics

Main article: Politics of Austeria

Austeria, since the founding of the Second Republic in 1990, is a unitary presidential republic with aspects of consociationalism based upon the principles established by the Morwall Agreement. The current constitution of Austeria is the National Constitution of 1989, the provisional constitution shortly after the Olive Revolution. It establishes the President of Austeria as head of state, which is currently held by Nertilian Bushaj. The executive is lead by the Premier of Austeria, currently held by Alexandru Minovici who serves as head of government and leads the Council of Ministers. The legislature of Austeria is the unicameral Senate of Austeria. The country has an independent judiciary with the Supreme Court at its apex.

Political system

Further information: President of Austeria, Premier of Austeria, and Senate of Austeria

The head of state of Austeria is the President, elected to a six-year term by direct, universal suffrage in a modified two-round system. The President’s traditional powers include appointing the Premier and members of the Council of Ministers, vetoing legislation, and declaring a state of emergency or state of war. The President is ex officio Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and chairperson of the National Defence and Security Council. The office also wields significant reserve and supervisory powers as it was originally perceived to be a figurehead position.

The executive Government of Austeria is the Council of Ministers, which consists of the head of the executive ministries and other officials, led by the Premier. As head of government, the Premier is the country's de jure chief executive and serves to execute policy. In addition to its executive powers, the Premier has limited legislative powers when authorized by the Senate. Unlike traditional parliamentary systems, the Council serves as an advisory council and to implement decisions made by the executive, instead of collectively deciding and approving policy.

The legislature of Austeria is the Senate, commonly known as Congress. It is a unicameral body composed of 131 Senators of which five seats are guaranteed for the country’s national minorities. The Senate is elected by universal suffrage according to a system of open party-list proportional representation to a term of four years. The Senate is described by the constitution to be the highest state authority, although its sovereignty is not absolute. Nevertheless, the Senate has the sole authority to propose and pass legislation.

Political culture

Main article: List of political parties in Austeria

Since the 2005 economic crisis, Austeria’s political culture has been sharply polarized between two major political camps, the April Bloc and the July Bloc. The April Bloc, led by the Kuvendi Party, are skeptical of joining the Euclean Community and closer ties with Euclea as a whole, in favor of engagement with northern Coius. The July Bloc, led by the National Republican Party, supports the country’s ascension to the Euclean Community and stronger ties with the rest of Euclea. The majority of political parties in Austeria are loosely representative of a certain ethnic and or religious community instead of ideological principles. Unlike traditional political alliances and coalitions found elsewhere in Euclea, the Blocs are loosely defined political camps who are aligned only by their stance towards Euclea and their opposition to each other instead of ideology. As a result, unity within the bloc is nonexistent and cross-alliance cooperation between parties is very common.

Following the fall of Equalism in Austeria in 1990, the Socialist government established a provisional constitution. This was meant to serve as a temporary measure until a new permanent constitution could be drafted, but this never occurred and the 1990 constitution remains in force, albeit with major reforms. According to it, Austeria is a de jure a parliamentary system based upon the Northabbey model. In practice, the country has shifted toward a de facto semi-presidential republic. Observers have largely traced this to three political trends present in Austeria during the 2000s; no clear ideological blocs in Congress, the appointment of Premiers based on consensus instead of ideology, and a heavily divided Council of Ministers. As a result, the President has become the main political authority of the country, relying on the office’s reserve powers to conduct the affairs of government. Meanwhile, the Premier has been weakened into a minor role in government and the Council of Ministers has been reduced to an advisory role instead of a collective decision making body.

Judiciary and Law enforcement

The judicial system of Austeria is based upon a modified form of the General code, inherited with major changes from the Equalist era. The country maintains a three-tiered hierarchical court system, with the County Courts as the primary trial courts, the Courts of Appeal as the primary appellate courts, and the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court at the apex.

A Road Police car.

The primary law enforcement agency of Austeria is the civilian National Police, which operates throughout the entire country. The agency is the successor to the Militia during the Equalist era, a decentralized agency that disintegrated during the Years of Blood. The National Police is subdivided into five branches with specialized units for specific law enforcement roles. The General Police is the general law enforcement agency, especially within urban areas. The Road Police administers road safety and also serves as the main force in the rural areas. The Border Police oversees the crossing of goods and people over the nation’s borders and through the country’s ports and airports. The Special Circumstances Force serves as the country’s counter-terrorist and critical incident response unit. The Reserve Force responds to large-scale security operations and other major incidents that overwhelm other units.

Like Etruria to the north, organized crime and other criminal organizations are active across Austeria, the most notable being the Talax Organisation. They are usually organized through blood ties through families or clans that allows them to maintain their internal cohesion and ability. The crime groups participate in a diverse range of criminal enterprises including racketeering, prostitution, and the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans. Following the collapse of the Etrurian mafia after Operation Gladio in 2018, they seized control of a significant portion of the drug trade into Euclea, especially in heroin and cocaine. The National Police have historically struggled with rooting out corruption within its ranks, but recent anti-corruption campaigns have rooted out many elements that have collaborated with the mafia. Alleged collaboration between some mafia families and Zorosani intelligence services have led to the Austerian State Security Service taking an active role in cracking down on organized crime.

Foreign relations

Austeria is a member of the Community of Nations, Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs], International Council for Democracy and the International Trade Organisation. The country is also a member of the Aurean Forum, which oversees the affairs of the Aurean Straits. It was formerly a member of the Association of Solarian Nations, an organization of countries with ties to the Solarian language and culture.

Austeria and Etruria have had difficult relations since ancient times but also significant cultural exchange, with Austeria acting as a gateway between Coius and Etruria. Contemporary perceptions of Etruria, which are largely negative, are still largely defined by Etruria’s colonization of Austeria, especially the National Solarian era from 1937 to 1946. Relations remained extremely cold after the Solarian War, especially after the beginning of the Western Emergency and the 1960 military coup d'état. The two countries did not have formal relations until 1989 after the Olive Revolution and the reconciliation process that followed. Diplomatic ties improved in the two decades that followed, but Etruria’s denial of war crimes and genocide during the Solarian era significantly hindered deeper ties. Relations worsened after the Tribune Movement’s victory in the 2016 election and further deteriorated after the passing of the 2018 National Dignity Act in Etruria, which banned any mention of historic war crimes in education. Shortly thereafter Austeria withdrew from the Association of Solarian Nations in protest.