United Soltenish Republics

United Soltenish Republics Repubbliche Soltenitiche Unite
Flag
Motto: Per Dio e la Patria For God and Country
Anthem: Marzo Nazionale (National March)
Capital	Carez
Largest	Ad Novas
Official languages	Soltenish
Recognised regional languages	Irassian Almaran Solerian Aestas Islander Liberocolpese Sulman
Recognized Minority Languages	Vultesian Riamese Common Gassasinian Arabic Kowy
Ethnic groups (2015)Soltenish National Census Bureau	72.6% Soltenish Canterian 9.5% Vultic 7.9% Culmian 5.3% Riamese 1.3% Kowy 1.1% Gassasinian 2.3% Various Other Groups
Religion (2015)Soltenish National Census Bureau	60.1% Soltenish Orthodoxy 11.1% Irreligious 8.2% Vultic Orthodoxy 8.1% Protestant Christian 7.9% Culmian Paganism 1.5% Jewish 3.1% Other
Demonym(s)	Soltenish
Government	Federal Dominant Party Semi-Presidential Republic
• President	Aurelio D'Libero
• Secretary of the Senate	Cristoforo Giacomo
• Chair of the High Court	Azelia Capo
Legislature	Senate
Formation
• Colonization by Canterians	Early 17th Century
• Unification under Almaran Kingdom	19 June 1732
• Soltenish Confederation Established	4 July 1756
• New Year's Constitution	1 January 1894
• Election of Ottavio Volpe	23 June 1912
• Declaration of Victory	11 March 1972
• First Free Elections	29 June 1980
• Sovereignty dispute with Culmia	Ongoing
Population
• 2022 estimate	150,228,017 (??)
• 2015 census	143,123,096
Currency	Bronzella (฿) (SBR)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy and yyyy-mm-dd AD
Driving side	right
Calling code	+71
Internet TLD	.st

Soltenia, officially the United Soltenish Republics (Soltenish: Repubbliche Soltenitiche Unite), is a sovereign nation located on a large island, off the Eastern coast of Merredone. The majority of the state’s territory is naturally defined by coastline, with the Republic bordering the Trident Union to the south and south east, Stivichia to the east, and Latvia and Saaremaa to the north East. Soltenia's mainland population is estimated around 150.2 million citizens; amongst the most populous nations in Eastern hemisphere. The state’s capital is the coastal metropolis of Carez, with its own population estimated at approximately just over ten million permanent residents. The largest city is Ad Novas, which sits at the Novas River Delta and has a population of just over fourteen and a half million.

The majority of the nation is culturally and ethnically Soltenish Canterian - belonging to the eponymous linguistically distinct Canterian ethnogroup. The nation's mercantile history means that significant minorities of Vultesian and Riamese populations exist, with multiple coastal cities having Vultesian or Riamese speaking neighborhoods. Liberal immigration policies during the 1880s have also resulted in a large influx of Gassasinians. The geographic location of Soltenia has also left the state with a large Culmian indigenous minority and Kowy immigrants. The total non-Soltenish population makes up just under thirty percent of the population at just over fourty one million.

A variety of regional languages exist but are mutually intelligible. A standard form of Soltenish, called "Standard Soltenish", based off of literary Almaran from the mid nineteenth century, exists and is the lingua franca of the state and government. Though most of the population is able to speak and understand Standard Soltenish, several groups, particularly minority groups, speak one of the several recognized minority languages. While the greater Soltenish state will not use a recognized minority language, local authorities will. Notably, Culmian is not recognized in any capacity by the Soltenish government.

Various Culmian tribes inhabitated the area which is now Soltenia as early as 100 AD. A region named "Solt-En-Ia" was documented in Canterian ship maps as early as 1557 AD. During the early 17th century, migrants from what is now Prybourne began to establish several colonies in the region. During the late 17th century, no less than four colonies had been established on the coastal areas of the island of Normerra; Sulma, Liberocolpi, Almara, and Soleria. Other colonies, such as Irassia in Olivacia and the various settlements in the Aestas Islands, would take root by 1700. At some point, the largest colony, Almara, would break off from the Catholic Church and form the basis of what would become Soltenish Orthodox Christianity. Following the Soltenish Unification Wars and the dissolution of the Double Union in 1722, the Almaran Kingdom was formed in 1732.

In 1756, King Alfonso II stepped down and instituted a republic, the Soltenish Confederacy. The Confederacy would become a merchant republic under and oligarchic government. The Confederacy dominated trade in the region and formed valuable and profitable links to Vultesia and Riamo. The Confederacy would also absorb Irassia and the Aestas Islands. The Soltenish interior, which was mostly unexplored in the 1750s, would be colonized and explored by the late 1880s, primarily by Solerian and Almaran speaking colonists who established the Amonte Republic, Republic of Granacasta, and State of Terrenero. These states, junior partners in the Confederacy dominated by the four coastal states, had become agricultural and mining powerhouses and united into the Triple Alliance. The Alliance demanded a rebalancing of power in the Confederacy. This rebalance resulted in the Soltenish Federation being established in 1894.

The Parso seizure of power in 1912 led to the replacement of the relatively free Federation with a totalitarian communist dictatorship and decades of repression. After the end of the Soltenish Civil War, the Socialist government was dissolved and replaced by a provisional government that would later form the United Soltenish Republics in 1972. After decades of misrule and corruption, the Soltenish Miracle led Soltenia from an impoverished and authoritarian state to being a relatively free democracy with high rates of growth for both GDP and income, moving from a low income economy to an upper-middle income economy by 2000.

The nation is renowned for the rugged natural beauty of its interior and its coastal towns and cities in particular are amongst the most visited tourist destinations in Merredone. Destinations such as the Riamese district of Queenstown, located in Ad Novas, or the Wur Kaneid Waterfalls attract thousands of tourists every year. The nation's mixed model economy is dominated by the extraction of its vast reserves of natural gas, precious metals, and expanding industrial and service sectors; both of which contain considerable government shares. Though the nation has been praised since its nominal transition to democracy, Soltenia still lags behind many of its peers on the Human Development index, with experts rating the United Republics at 0.69 to 0.71. Other issues that have impeded progress have been identified as military pervasiveness in the democratic system, governmental and industrial corruption, overpopulation, strained public and health care services, national debt and a considerable wealth divide. Additionally, terrorism as a part of the Culmian conflict has resulted in political changes and public safety measures that have been criticized as leading to democratic backsliding. Aurelio D'Libero, the Republic's president, has been particularly controversial in his consolidation of power. Soltenia has been criticized for its intervention in the Culmian Dispute. Soltenia claims to have intervened to protect Sulman (a dialect of Soltenish) speaking minorities in the region, but critics claim that Soltenia merely used these minority groups as an excuse to seize and control territory in the region.

The nation is currently lobbying for Association status within the Saltstil Pact. It is also a member of the Anterian World Assembly.

Geography

At AREA, Soltenia is the RANK largest country in the world by area, and is the largest country on Normerra. The volcano Mt. Tomás is the highest mountain in the country. The country lies nearly entirely in Meredonne on the island of Normerra, with a chain of islands in the Aestas Sea and a strip of land on the Oliviacian mainland being the only territory not to lie on Normerra.

Soltenia primarily lies between latitudes 19°N and 31°N and longitudes 112°E and 126°E.

Bordering the Paisi Ocean to the north, the Aestas Sea to the south, with the countries of Lativa and Sarremaa, Stivichia, and the Trident Union lying to the east and southeast. Also to the east is the Culmia Region. It shares maritime borders with Flourystria on the west coast and Senalan in the south Aestas Sea as well.

Climate

Most of Soltenia is dominated by the humid subtropical climate (Cfa/Cwa). As one nears the western tip of the country, the climate gradually becomes slightly less humid and is more arid. As one moves further south, the weather becomes more subtropical. The Greater Aestas Islands, near the equator, qualify as tropical. as the winter season and all months have a mean temperature above 18.0 °C (the defined coldest monthly mean temperature of tropical climates). Irassia, located on the Oliviacia mainland, is much warmer than mainland Soltenia but not nearly as warm as the tropical Greater Aestas Islands.

Seasonally, summers are generally hot and humid throughout the entire country. Air currents pump hot and moist air mass from the tropical Aestas Sea and warm currents in the Paisi Ocean towards Normerra as whole, creating the typical sultry tropical summers. Daytime highs are often in the upper 20s to the mid 30s celsius. Rainfall is summer concentrated along the southern coast. Sunshine is abundant across the country in summer, as the rainfall often comes in quick, but intense downpours. The north and northwestern portions of the country are more arid, especially in the interior due to the rain shadow effect from the coastal mountains. The summer months are by far the wettest portion of the year for the majority of the country. The Aestas Islands on the other hand are much wetter, qualifying as a tropical rainforest climate, receiving more than 60mm of rain every month.

Winters are colder in the western tip, with average highs in the 7 °C range in January. Farther east, winters become milder, with average January highs in the 12 °C range. As one nears the Aestas Sea, coastal plain, and coastal areas of the south, winters become warm, with daytime highs near or over 16 °C. Winters tend to be very dry and sunny. In the Aestas Islands, sunny and wet weather is constant year round.

Topography and Geology

The country is relatively flat as a whole, with most elevation changes being rolling hills, shallow valleys, and shallow canyons cut by rivers. Springs form the majority of river sources in the country, and many flow north-south or west-east.

A notable exception to the otherwise flat interior of the mainland would be the coastal mountains along the northern coast. The mountains, formed by the collision of the Elstemv plate with the Normerran plate, represent a sudden rise in elevation just near the coast. Additionally, Irassia is much more hilly and mountainous than the mainland. The Aestas Islands further south are flatter and mostly featureless, with very few large rivers or topographic features to signifigantly effect the geography of the country.

The country lies mostly on the Normerran tectonic plate.

Natural Disasters

Due to the Elstemv-Normerran fault line, earthquakes and tsunamis caused by earthquakes are common in the northern and western coastal regions of the country. A similar situation with the Oliviacia-Normerra plate collision causes a moderate risk of earthquakes and tsunamis in the Greater Aestas Islands.

Tropical storms, caused by warm waters in the eastern Aestas Sea, are common but mostly impact Irassia and the Greater Aestas Islands. Tropical storms rarely impact the mainland.

Government and Politics

Soltenia is a federal, semi-presidential republic. The Soltenish political system operates under a constitutional document called the Soltenish Articles of Unity. Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of the Senate; the fundamental principles of the constitution (as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the state structure, and the rule of law) are valid in perpetuity. The Senate consists of 356 members elected to three year terms. Each Republic and the free city of Carez is guaranteed four Senators with the remaining 300 distributed according to population.

The President of the United Republics serves as the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a six year term. The President has the power to dissolve the Senate or circumvent it by submitting referendums directly to the people; the President also appoints judges and civil servants, negotiates and ratifies international agreements, as well as serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Importantly, the president is also invested with veto power and may send legislation to the courts for review. The President may suspend the Senate in "times of emergency" but with the caveat that the Prime Minister or another member of the Council of Ministers, takes control of the government.

Unlike the President, the role of Prime Minister is determined by statute and not the Articles. The Prime Minister is elected by the Senate for a potentially indefinite term, leaving office upon losing the confidence of the Senate. The Prime Minister determines public policy and oversees the civil service, with an emphasis on domestic matters. The Prime Minister has the power to appoint the Council of Ministers, although the President is required to approve any appointments. While the President cannot dismiss the Prime Minister, only the Senate can, the President can dismiss members of the Council of Ministers. Additionally, since 2017 the Prime Minister has also ex officio served as the Senate Speaker and ultimately has control over the legislative calendar of the Senate and the recognition of elected members.

Following almost four years of rule under Aurelio D'Libero, Soltenia has been criticized for what external sources have called "autocratization". Several reports by multiple sources, both government and NGOs, have called for Soltenia to be reclassified from a democracy to a "competitive authoritarian" government. While opposition parties exist and criticize the government, state-controlled media, electoral fraud, and corruption are extremely common in Soltenish politics. The D'Libero government has also been criticized for its willingness to go against the rule of law and eliminate oversight over the government.

One particular trend that has been called "worrying" is the consolidation of power under President D'Libero. Initially elected as Prime Minister in 2012, D'Libero successfully abolished the Senate Speaker as an independent role in 2014 and merged its powers with that of the Prime Minister, giving him control over all legislation and its domestic execution in the country. In March 2018, President Antonio DeCocco died of cancer. Several days later, a string of terror attacks prompted a declaration of martial law and the "temporary" assumption of the powers of the presidency by Prime Minister D'Libero. This state of martial law continued until after the 2019 elections, which returned a massive landslide for D'Libero. D'Libero successfully pushed for him to be simultaneously appointed as Prime Minister, arguing that the Prime Minister was a member of the executive and the Articles only forbid the holding of multiple offices in different branches of government.

Parties and Elections

Since the fall of communism, Soltenia has historically had a multi-party system. The last Soltenish senatorial election took place on TBD July, 2019. This senatorial election was the 13th since the first multi-party election in 1980. The result was a victory for the Federal Union Party, preserving its two-thirds majority with President Aurelio D'Libero also assuming the post of Prime Minister. The voters elected 356 senators. The current political landscape in Soltenia is dominated by the conservative Federal Union Party (PUF), formed out of a merger of the Conservative Union and Federal Democratic parties, and two medium-sized parties, the left-wing New Republican Party (NPR), and democratic socialist Social Democratic Party (PSD).

After the fall of communism and the end of the Parsos dictatorship in 1971, a provisional government was established. A democratic constitution was written and put into place in 1980. Today's parliament is called the Senate, just like in royal times of the Almaran Kingdom and in contrast to the General Assembly of the Federation era. The Royal Senate of Almara (later Soltenia) was a mostly advisory legislative institution in the late kingdom of Almara-Soltenia during the first half of the eighteenth century. As a result of the attempted coup of King Umberto II, it was dissolved in 1755. The term Natio Almara ("Almaran nation") was used to designate the political elite which had participation in the senate, mostly consisting of the Almaran nobility, the Catholic (and later Orthodox) clergy, and a few enfranchised non-Almarans, regardless of language. After 1750, this term became Natio Soltenica ("Soltenish nation") and applied to Soltenish nobility.

According to the country's constitution, any citizen who will be 18 on or before the date of the next election and is of "sound mental health" has the right to vote. Elections are administered by the jurisdiction the election affects (i.e. republics administer republic elections, the Federal government administer federal elections, etc.). In the event an election affects multiple jurisdictions, the election is administered by the higher jurisdiction. By constitutional requirement, elections are always held on the second Sunday of July.

Political Divisions

Soltenia is a federation composed of 13 republics and a "free city". Republics have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the Federal government. They are free to create and control their own governments, provided they are free. They also have independent Courts of Law for common justice. Despite this, republics have been considered to be losing their autonomy to create their own laws and govern independently. For example, criminal and civil law, law enforcement, and infrastructure have become either increasingly nationalized or delegated to the districts.

The republics and the free city may be grouped into regions: North Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Central Interior, Eastern Interior, and Overseas. These regions are merely geographical, not political or administrative divisions, and they do not have any specific form of government. Although defined by law, Soltenish regions are used mainly for statistical purposes, and also to define the distribution of federal funds in development projects. There are also traditional regions based off historical political and economic connection: Coastal, Interior, Frontier, Irassia, and the Aestas Islands.

Municipalities, as the republics, have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the republic government. The structure and relative autonomy of the municipalities varies wildly from republic to republic. In 2014 then Prime Minister Aurelio D'Libero created districts to facilitate communication and collaboration between the republics and the central government, but these districts have been criticized as usurping the powers of the republics. Originally six, currently there are five districts, each headed by an envoy appointed by the president.

Demographics

The population of Soltenia, as recorded by the 2015 census, was approximately 139.1 million, with a ratio of men to women of 0.97:1 and roughly 77% of the population defined as urban. The population is heavily concentrated in the southern coast (55.9 million inhabitants) and northern coast (37.3 million inhabitants) regions, while the two most extensive regions, the Central Interior and Eastern Interior, which together make up amount of Soltenish territory, have a total of roughly only amount inhabitants.

The first census in Soltenia was carried out in 1895 and recorded a population of just over 17 million. From 1880 to 1930, nearly 1 million Gassasinians arrived. Soltenia's population increased significantly between 1920 and 1970, because of a decline in the mortality rate, even though the birth rate underwent a slight decline. In the 1940s the annual population growth rate was 2.4%, rising to 3.0% in the 1950s and remaining at 2.9% in the 1960s, as life expectancy rose from 44 to 54 years and to 72.6 years in 2007. It has been steadily falling since the 1960s, from 3.04% per year between 1950 and 1960 to 1.05% in 2005 and is expected to fall to a negative value of –0.29% by 2050 thus completing the demographic transition.

In 2015, the total illiteracy rate was 11.48% and among the youth (ages 15–19) 1.74%. It was highest (20.30%) in the Eastern Interior, which has a large proportion of rural poor and non-Soltenish speakers. Illiteracy was high (24.18%) among the rural population and lower (9.05%) among the urban population.

Language

Standard Soltenish, a form of the language based off the dialect of the 18th century Almaran upper class, is the sole official language of the country. Government documents, sessions of the Senate, and the official Constitution of Soltenia all operate in standard Soltenish. Various regional dialects are recognized and are available on request.

According to official estimates, some 113.2 million people (out of the total population of 150.23 million) only spoke a dialect of Soltenish at home.e Spanish at home, making it the second most commonly used language in the United States. Other languages spoken at home by one million people or more include Chinese (2.8 million), Tagalog (1.6 million), Vietnamese (1.4 million), French (1.3 million), Korean (1.1 million), and German (1 million).

The most widely taught foreign languages in the United States, in terms of enrollment numbers from kindergarten through university undergraduate education, are Spanish (around 7.2 million students), French (1.5 million), and German (500,000). Other commonly taught languages include Latin, Japanese, American Sign Language, Italian, and Chinese. About 18% of all Americans claim to speak both English and another language.