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

Speeker 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.

Government

Cabinet

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

Anders Samuelsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lorecian Cooperation

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 Defence
Minister of Defence		Anna von Baer
Ministry of Stockbreeding, Agriculture and Fishing
Minister of Stockbreeding, Agriculture and Fishing		Ole von Schlieben
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Minister of Cultural Affairs		-
Ministry of Tourism
Minister of Tourism		-
Ministry of Science
Minister of Science		Thomas Schlegel