Espalia

Espalian Republic Espalexen gonvakook 慖的 共和國
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Müilai kuulubi Espalexelek 未來 属ꡟꡎꡞ 慖ꡠꡙꡠꡁ ("The Future Belongs to Espalia")
Capital	Youcenlitna
Official languages	Espalian
Demonym(s)	Espalian
Government	Unitary one-party socialist republic
• President	Valtari Toivas
Legislature	National Assembly
Establishment
• Kingdom	1744
• Republican Revolution	1931
• May Revolution	1955
Population
• 2021 census	12,328,000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	TBA
• Per capita	TBA
Currency	Ceeni (ESC)
Time zone	UTC -4
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.esp

Espalia (Espalian: Espalex, 慖, pronounced /'espɑleʃ/), officially the Espalian Republic (Espalian: Espalexen gonvakook, 慖的 共和國, pronounced /'espɑleʃen 'ɣonʋɑko:k/) is a country located in Northern Alharu. It is bordered by TBA. Youcenlitna is the capital and the country's largest city.

Lands south of present-day Espalia are considered to be the urheimat of Finnic peoples. These groups migrated northwards during the 11th and 12th centuries, adopting the ??? characters along the way. Starting from the 15th century, Espalia's location brought prosperity to the multiple city-states and principalities located along the coast of the Ygros Sea and the Keelpijp. Most of these states were consolidated into the Principality of Mexemaa and Principality of Tälvä by the start of the 16th century. In 1768, the last Prince of Tälvä, Otto VI, died without an heir, and the throne passed to Prince Vilyakka IX of Mexemaa. Vilyakka's successor, Kuura I united the two principalities into the Kingdom of Espalia in 1806. The new kingdom, however, was weak and dominated by aristocrats and merchants of the various free cities. Interior parts of the country were also heavily neglected.

In 1909, King Aikio V...

Politics

According to the Constitution of Espalia, Espalia is a unitary one-party socialist republic governed by the National Unity Party together with the mass organisations and bloc parties of the National Progressive Front. While the country remains nominally socialist, the party has relaxed its absolute grip on the economy in the 21st century and now tolerates the existence of small and medium-sized enterprises. However, all political activity outside the official organizations is heavily repressed by the Ministry of National Security.

Legislative branch

The National Assembly (Espalian: Kookvai, 國会) is the unicameral parliament of Espalia. It is elected every four years by Espalian citizens over the age of 21 from a single nationwide constituency. While nominally the National Assembly is the supreme organ of state power, in practice it functions as little more than a rubber stamp for decisions already made by the National Unity Party.

Only the National Progressive Front is allowed to wield candidates in parliamentary elections. Voters are presented by a single slate of candidates selected by the Front, which they must then either approve or reject. In practice, the slate is always approved with over 99% of the vote. This essentially allows the National Unity Party to decide the composition of the legislature.

Besides the National Unity Party, various mass organizations and bloc parties represented in the legislature include the Workers' Party, Democratic People's Party, Farmers' Party, Espalian National Youth League, Espalian Central Organization of Trade Unions and the Espalian Women's League.

Executive branch

The head of the executive branch is the President of the Espalian Republic (Espalian: Espalexen gonvakoogin cundon, 慖的 共和國的 総統), who is not elected but is always ex officio the Chairman of the National Unity Party. Together with the ministers of the Executive Council, (Espalian: Gancxenvainee, 行政会議) they form the government of Espalia.

The President is granted extensive powers by the Constitution. The President appoints the ministers of the Executive Council, who are then approved or dismissed by the National Assembly. President can veto all legislation and appoints various high offices of state, including the Prosecutor-General and members of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Council of Justice.

In practice, the executive branch functions as little more than an administrative organ for implementing decisions already made by the National Unity Party. Ministers are responsible not only to the National Assembly, but also to their respective secretaries in the Presidium of the National Unity Party.

Judicial branch

The highest judicial organ in Espalia is the Supreme Court (Espalian: Korkedein papvan, 高最 法院), whose members are appointed by the President for a six-year term, subject to removal by the President. The Supreme Court's duties are restricted to hearing appeals from Courts of Appeal, and it does not enjoy the power of judicial review. While technically independent from the executive and legislative branches, in practice the judicial independence of all courts is heavily restricted.

Below the Supreme Court are Courts of Appeal (Espalian: Cxansoopapvan, 上訴法院) in all every capital, and below them People's Courts (Espalian: Raxvaxenpapvan, 民的法院) that function as courts of first instance. Judges of lower courts are appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice (Espalian: Korkedein sipapvainee, 高最 司法会議), whose members are in turn appointed by the President.