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 ascended the throne. Aikio wanted to centralize power away from the traditionally independent free cities and strengthen his power and for the next two decades, constantly fought with the Council of Ministers and the Diet. His erratic behaviour alienated many of the communities that traditionally supported him, and an economic downturn in the late 1920's further increased support for republicanism. In 1931, large protests and a general strike resulted in a military coup and abdication of the King. Espalian Republic was declared on 14 May 1931. The new republic was unstable from the start, governments were short-lived and strikes paralyzed the country. Eventually the military disposes the new republican government in a coup in the May Revolution of 1955.

The new military junta promised to bring stability and order to Espalia, and all parties were forcefully merged into the Espalian National Unity Party. A new constitution was promulgated in the 1957 that relenquished military power to a civilian government nationalized most of major industries and made the country a one-party state in the process known as the Revolutionary Stabilization Period. In the following decades, Espalia industrialized and built a comprehensive welfare state, but political opposition was heavily repressed. In the 21st Century the Espalian economy has stagnated due to excessive regulation and political infighting within the Party, while foreign powers have criticized Espalia's weak human rights record.

History

Pre-unification

• Proto-Espalians migrate north and take control of the coasts around Keelpijp in the 1200-1300.
• Espalians found free cities and principalities along the coast, the interior remains sparsely populated.
• Garindina takes control of Outer Durland and Mandersalmi in the 1600's.
• Most smaller statelets are later consolidated into the Principality of Mexemaa in the north and Principality of Tälvä in the south by the 1700's.
• Otto VI of Tälvä dies without an heir, the throne passes to Vilyakka IX of Mexemaa in 1768.
• Two states exist in personal union until 1806, when Kuura I unites them into the Kingdom of Espalia.

Royal Era (1806-1931)

• The new royal government remains weak due to influence of fiercely independent free cities and their merchants, as well as local aristocrats,
• Animosity between the peasants and gentry in the countryside and workers and bourgeoise in the cities increases.
• More reforms and civil and political rights.
• Espalia takes Outer Durland and Mandersalmi from Garindina during the Garindinan-Gotneskan War.
• Instability increases towards the end of the 19th century.
• Aikio V becomes the King in 1909, wants to centralize power, constantly fights with the Diet.
• Elites turn to republicanism, economic downturn in the 1920's alienates people from the monarchy,
• General strike starts in May 1931, eventually the military stages a coup and overthrows the monarchy on 14 May 1931,

Republican Era (1931-1955)

• Republic declared, but instability doesn't end, monarchist forces attempt a countercoup in October 1931,
• 12 elections in 14 years, governments keep getting deposed by extremists in the National Assembly.
• Military becomes increasingly powerful, civilian control of the military disappears.
• Free-market solutions fail to stabilize the government, socialism becomes increasingly powerful among the military that disdains the former royalist elites.

May Revolution and Revolutionary Stabilization Period (1955-1963)

• Following parliamentary elections in 1955 where a liberal-social democratic coalition takes power, the military stages a coup and declares martial law. Junta led by Colonel Kostia Kekko takes power.
• All political parties are forcibly merged into the Espalian National Unity Party. Opposition is repressed. Kekko manages to expel non-socialists out of the junta, major industries are nationalized.
• New constitution is enacted in 1957, Espalia becomes a one-party republic. Military relenquishes power to the civilian government. Kekko becomes the President.
• Revolutionary Stabilization Period destroys civil society, foreigners escape the country, economy suffers.
• Kekko is assassinated in 1962, is succeeded by Colonel Ora Rasantaja, declares the end of RSE in 1963.

Geography

Structure of the Espalian government

Politics

According to the Constitution of Espalia, Espalia is a unitary one-party socialist republic governed by the Espalian 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.

National Unity Party (200)   Farmers' Party (40)   Democratic Party (40)   COETU (ENUP members) (21)   COETU (non-members) (9)   Youth League (ENUP members) (19)   Youth League (non-members) (11)   Women's Union (ENUP members) (25)   Women's Union (non-members) (5)   Military (ENUP members) (40)

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 Espalian 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 Espalian National Unity Party to decide the composition of the legislature.

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

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 Espalian 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 Espalian National Unity Party. Ministers are responsible not only to the National Assembly, but also to their respective secretaries in the Presidium of the Espalian 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.

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 both appointed and dismissed by the Supreme Council of Justice (Espalian: Korkedein sipapvainee, 高最 司法会議), whose members are in turn appointed by the President.

While technically the judiciary is independent from the executive and legislative branches, in practice the judicial independence of all courts is heavily restricted. The executive branch de facto heavily intervenes in judicial decisions through the Supreme Council of Justice, who has power to give binding advice to all judges and unilaterally move cases to different courts.

Espalian National Unity Party

The Espalian National Unity Party (Espalian: Espalexen kookkaicen dooniuden centan, 慖的 國家的的 統一性的 政党), often simply called The Party (Espalian: Centan, 政党) is the ruling party of Espalia. According to the Constitution of Espalia, it is the ruling party of Espalia and all major political decisions are made in the upper party structures.

The highest organ of the Party is the Party Congress (Espalian: Centantaivai, 政党大会). The Congress consists of thousands of delegates elected by the local party organs and assembles every year to approve candidates for parliamentary elections and select the Chairman and members of the Party Council. When the Congress is not in session, the highest organ is the Party Council (Espalian: Centanvainee, 政党会議) that assembles 2-4 times a year. The Party Council is largely powerless organ, and its duties include deliberation, voicing the opinions of various interest groups and rubberstamping the approval of the members of the Presidium (Espalian: Cxoosekdan, 主席团) as proposed by the Chairman.

In practice, the Party is led by the Chairman (Espalian: Cxoosek, 主席), who is ex officio also the President of the Republic. The Chairman leads the Presidium, whose members are nominated by the Chairman and approved by the Party Council. The Presidium is the supreme organ of the party when the Congress and the Council are not in session and functions like a Cabinet, where all political decisions are made. Members of the Presidium are given portfolios much like actual cabinet members, and actual government ministers are subordinate to members of the Presidium.

The Presidium also nominates members of the Selection Committee (Espalian: Senbatjejunnee, 選拔委員会), tasked with vetting and approving all new party members; and the Control Committee (Espalian: Guncxeejejunnee, 控制委員会), tasked with monitoring party members and organs for any ideological deviancies and corruption.

Ideologically, the party espouses an authoritarian and conservative version of socialism, often simply referred to as Espalian socialism. Its political position is often disputed – it is considered far-left by some, while others have accused it of fascism. Owing to the fact that the Party was created by a forced merger of various communist, socialist, liberal and conservative parties by the military in the aftermath of the May Revolution, the ideological composition of the party is heterodox and multiple competing factions exist within it. How openly these different factions can compete for power has depended on the amount of control the Chairman has managed to impose upon the party. During the chairmanship of Valtari Toivas, the power exercised by the Chairman has weakened.