Renneque

Rennekkan Federation Fédération Renneque (Midrasian)
Flag
Motto: "Ella vole de ses propres ailes" "She flies with her own wings"
Anthem: Astre brilhant de le Renneque "Shining star of Rennekka"
Capital	Rehue
Largest city	Bonaire
Official languages	Midrasian
Demonym(s)	Rennequen
Government	Federal presidential constitutional republic
• President	Nicoline Lavigne
Legislature	Congress
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Public Assembly
Independence from Midrasia
• Confederation	1875
• Independence	1902
• Riquarde Declaration	1918
Area
• Total	3,275,525 km2 (1,264,687 sq mi)
• Water (%)	5.3
Population
• Estimate	41,200,000
• 2015 census	41,230,416
• Density	12.59/km2 (32.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$1.772 trillion
• Per capita	$43,000
Gini (2017)	46.2 high
HDI (2017)	0.882 very high
Currency	Rennekkan Dollar (RND)
Time zone	UTC-4, -3 (East Rennekkan Time)
Date format	dd ˘ mm ˘ yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+15
Internet TLD	.rn

Renneque, officially the Rennekkan Federation (Midrasian: Fédération Renneque) is a sovereign state in Eastern Rennekka, with a population of approximately 41 million. Rehue is the national capital, though the largest city and main cultural and financial hub of the nation is the city of Bonaire. The country is made up of 9 states of varying size and the capital district of Rehue, all of which are located on the mainland except for the states of Xandria and Malouines which are located on islands off the coast of the mainland. Renneque is bordered to the north by Vidoria. With a land area of 3,275,525km², the Federation is the single largest country in Rennekka, however in terms of its mainland area, the country is smaller than Vidoria. The climate of the country is generally split between north and south. Northern Renneque plays host to a hot tropical climate, whilst the southern areas are mostly cold desert. Most population centres are located along the coast, or along the River Puyehou, the largest river in the country which meanders through much of the country's inland territory.

Renneque was first inhabited by the Austral peoples prior to Asuran contact, though a number of other tribes such as the Ataxa also held small settlements within the country's inland territory as evident by ruins within the country. In 1505 Midrasian explorer Oscar de Xandri who had been tasked with charting a sea route to Brassida was allegedly blown off course at the cape of Majula during a particularly bad storm. After landing at Mazarin the explorer followed the chain until discovering the island of Xandria, which would come to be named after him, and eastern Rennekka where he made landfall. However, proper settlement of the area didn't come about until the late Sixteenth Century when Midrasian explorer Louis Duhamel chartered much of the Rennekkan coast. Initially, settlements in Renneque was used as staging posts for trade vessels headed to Majula belonging to the Midrasian Oriental Charter. Soon however, the colony began to attract more settlers and quickly became home to a large number of plantations for growing cotton and sugar. This large plantation economy demanded large imports of slaves from Arabekh and Majula due to the declining native populations. Although never a hugely profitable Midrasian colony, Renneque was incredibly important to the Midrasian defence of Majula and control of the sea passage between the Majulan Sea and Opal Ocean. By the late Nineteenth Century, colonial tensions were rising within the colony, given the ongoing crisis in mainland Midrasia. In 1875 Renneque was granted limited self-governance from Midrasia, leading to the first democratic elections in the country and establishment of the capital at Rehue. A large number of Rennequen men fought within the Great War leading to increasing calls for independence from Midrasia. In 1902 the Mydramonde was created granting the country much greater autonomy, and by 1918, the country was effectively fully independent.

Today Renneque remains an important political and economic power in Aeia. At $43,000 the country has one of the highest GDP per capita incomes in Rennekka, however, the country has one of the highest levels of inequality within the developed world. The country remains a member of the Mydramonde though its relations with Midrasia have become increasingly distant in recent years as Renneque's parent country has sought greater ties with other Asuran nations. Renneque is also close with states within the Vestric Forum. Though the nation is not a member, Renneque retains a number of trading agreements with the bloc. Renneque is particularly friendly with its neighbour Vidoria despite a troubled past. Both nations share a defensive alliance and multiple trade agreements. As a result, Renneque's unique and powerful position makes it a prominent country worldwide, however successive governments have preferred for the nation to take a more isolationist stance in global affairs, promoting internal prosperity.

Government and politics

The current President of Renneque, Nicoline Lavigne

The political and governmental system of Renneque was originally modelled on the existing Midrasian system. However, cultural, historical and geographical factors have led Renneque to evolve and adapt much differently to the political climate existing within Asura. According to the modern Constitutional Charter of Renneque, as enacted in 1902, Renneque is a Federal presidential constitutional republic. Similar to Midrasia, the three branches of government in the legislature, executive, and judiciary are separate, providing checks and balances over each other. However, the federal system of government in Renneque also ensures that individual states have further scrutineering power over the federal government in Rehue. The legislature of the country is made up of the Senate and the Public Assembly, collectively known as Congress. Elections to these bodies take place every four years utilising the first-past-the-post system. The executive is made up of an elected President and their cabinet which are confirmed by Congress. The judiciary is appointed by an independent national bar which scales from local districts to state courts, to the highest court in the federation the Court of Cassation.

Modern Renneque politics is dominated by the two major parties: the Chartist Party of Renneque, and the Federalist Party. The Chartist Party is seen as being centre-right, promoting a smaller federal government and greater state rights; whilst the Federalist Party is seen as centre-left promoting a larger federal government and greater redistribution of wealth. Minor parties have in the past been able to gain representation in Congress, though this has tended to be a rarity rather than the norm outside of the reserved positions for representatives of Austral and Ataxa natives.

Government

The Congressional building in the capital of Rehue