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Politics of Freice

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Freice
Coat of arms of Freice.png
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Freice

The politics of Freice takes place within a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The president of the Island Meeting is the head of government, and there is a two-party system. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches. Military defence is formally the responsibility of the federal government (the government of Riamo), although the Island Guard undertakes many of the duties of a domestic military force.

Constitutionally, Freice is a republic and Country of the Federation of Riamo. However, under Riamese federalism, significant autonomy is given to the constituent republics. However, because of Freice's unique history and culture, Freice enjoys significantly more autonomy compared to other republics, with some foreign policy areas under the authority of the Island Government.

Offices

Office Name Party Since
Queen of Riamo Diana II TBD
Administrator Brigadier General Liam George 2021-present
President of the Island Meeting Aniara Neileka Independent 2022-present

The head of state is Diana II, Queen of Riamo.

The President of the Island Meeting (Freician: Kauiaga oe tela Rhui Mulo) alternatively and commonly referred to as the President of Freice (Kauiaga oe Faio) or just the Kauiaga is the presiding officer of Freice's legislative, the Island Meeting, and also the political leader of Freice. Unique amongst democracies, the office combines the roles of legislative speaker and head of government, elected by and from amongst the legislature to oversee and direct proceedings.[1]

The Government (officially the Government Council) operates on the basis of collegiality, with ministers collaborating with one another in the running of their departments rather than there being strict allocations of responsibility.[2] Ministers, like the President, are elected by the Island Meeting and may only be removed by the Meeting; the President has only the power to allocate responsibilities.[2]

Constitution

The 1972 Constitution Act outlines Freice's political and economic system. In 2021, following the July coup d'état, the Schedules of Government was enacted, replacing the 1972 constitution. However, following the downfall of the government in December of that year, the 1972 constitution was restored. A number of constitutional amendments were subsequently made to provide for a new constituent assembly to draft a new document. These were the Constitution (Continuity and Confirmation) Act 2022, the Constitution (Amendment no.19) Act 2022, the Constitution (Draft) Act 2022, and the Island Meeting (President and Government) Act 2022.[3]

The Freice Autonomy Act 1969 (amended in 1980) establishes Freice's relationship with Riamo and serves as a de facto constitutional document. It provides for continued Riamese sovereignty over Freice, whilst protecting Freice's right to self-government. The act defines the as a country within the federation, referring to the "right to autonomy and self-rule of independent nationalities."[4] The act also describes the Freician people as constituting a "sovereign personality", allowing for the right to self-determination.[4]

Legislative branch

Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Island Meeting (Freician: Rhui Mulo), often known as the Meeting, which is composed of 11 members (or 'delegates') elected popular vote.[5] The Island Island Meeting was established through the Constitutional Reform (Assembly and Elections) Act 2021 and confirmed with the Constitution (Continuity and Confirmation) Act 2022, replacing the Nuejel as Freice's legislative branch.[6][7] It meets at the Kaimo Landua (National House) in the Freician capital Sekapa, with the current Island Meeting elected on 16-17 January 2022.

The Island Meeting is responsible for making laws for any matter, subject to the Freician constitution and the Freice Autonomy Act. The Riamese federal government may override its decisions only in limited circumstances, subject to the association act.[8] The Island Meeting's powers are comparable to those found in other legislatures. It has the power to enact legislation, amend the constitution, approve the budget, and oversee the administration of government.[9] The courts provide judicial oversight.

The President of the Island Meeting is the chief officer and highest authority of the assembly.[10] The president presides over debates within the assembly and determines who can speak and which bills can be put forward for debate. They are also responsible for maintaining order within the assembly and are empowered to sanction members (including expelling them from the sitting) if they breach its rules.[11]

As a constituent assembly as well as permanent legislature, the Island Meeting in its current form is also responsible for drafting a new Freician constitution.[8]

Composition

The current membership of the General Kiuva, following the 2023 Freician general election, is as follows (after the merger between KTM and the MURO Alliance and the renaming of the Faio'i Senoka Party to Faio Ekaitaki’e ka Orpasa’e):[12]

Constituency Name Party Serving since
Dukorane Barqia Iege   Faio'se Ekaitaki'e ka Orpasa'e 2022-present
Kamoa Ielika   Faio'se Ekaitaki'e ka Orpasa'e 2022-present
Koimuke Taraqa Ieqol   Faio'se Ekaitaki'e ka Orpasa'e 2022-present
Oisa Tona   Faio'se Ekaitaki'e ka Orpasa'e 2022-present
Marana Pratsa Tanoma Malikina   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Seime Etu   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present
Tamalu Valapaima   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Mopeta Pratsa Kiso Toma   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Fuoa Kaleki   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present
Peka Kana Tenqel   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Mulone Uota   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present
Ritora Iisa Kiama Nalosa   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Eietu Mekapate   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present
Roheo Radei Oratite Seuia Siotefe   Faio'se Ekaitaki'e ka Orpasa'e 2023-present
Sekapa Avama Siotefe   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Taina Makama   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Aniara Neileka   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Ara Naganori   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Sekapa Seiva Manuatamu Miane   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2023-present
Kuisa Saima   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present
Neota Kaioni   Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa 2022-present

Executive

Aniara Neileka, current President of the Island Meeting since 2022. She previously served as President of the Assembly of Delegates from June to July 2021.

The Government Council (Kaunio Kuwanaara) is the executive branch, consisting of ministers who work for the implementation of the political, economic, social, cultural, and other such activities of the state.[2] It directs the activities of the state, oversees the management of the country's finances, and ensures the effectiveness of the administrative structure and bureaucracy. The council is appointed by the Island Meeting.

The head of the Government Council is the President of the Island Meeting, who concurrently serves as ex officio chair of the council. Members of the council make key decisions collectively, responsible as one for the consequences of these decisions.

President as political leader

The President of the Island Meeting also serves as political leader of Freice, serving as ex officio chair of the Government Council. According to the Constitution of Freice and its amendments, the President:[10]

  • Exercises "supreme executive authority" in the name of and on behalf of the Island Meeting.
  • Formally presents bills to the Island Meeting on behalf of the Government Council.
  • Formally presents reports on domestic and external relations to the Island Meeting.
  • Appoints judges with the approval of the Island Meeting.
  • Declares a state of emergency and oversees relief in the event of a disaster.
    • Declares public schools and government offices closed during civil or weather emergencies.
  • Oversees all government offices.

Executive authority remains vested in the Island Meeting, with the president exercising these powers on its behalf rather than independent of it.[13] The president's authority remains accountable to the Meeting and acts only with its permission.

Government Council

As of January 2022, the makeup of the Government Council is as follows:[14]

Portfolio Minister Responsibilities
President of the Island Meeting
Leader of the Government Council 		Aniara Neileka
  • External relations
  • Elections
  • Education
  • The constitution
  • Liason with the Riamese federal government
Treasurer
Deputy Leader of the Government Council 		Edia Kiarai
  • The economy & finance
  • Enterprise
  • Financial services
  • Economic development
  • Budget
Director of Health Boni Iasoqe
  • Health
  • Health and Safety
  • Hospitals and emergency response
  • Social care
  • Mental health
Counsel General Taqame Natpiau
  • The legal system
  • Law reform
  • Police issues/crime/law & order
  • Equality
Inspector of Lands Siega Pokigna
  • Environment and green areas
  • Environmental health
  • Refuse collection and disposal

Political parties and elections

Historically, Freice did not have an active party system, with elections largely contested on a non-partisan basis. A number of small political parties have existed, some of which have achieved limited electoral success. The modern party system in Freice arose out of the 2021 Freician coup d'état, which saw the Common Wealth Party seize power. Opposition to the Common Wealth Party responded to the new government by establishing an opposition party to compete in elections called by the government, called Freice Independents.[15]

When the Common Wealth government collapsed in December 2021, the interim government of Edia Kiarai passed the Political Parties and Elections Act 2021, which all but prohibited the establishment of political parties.[16] This came in response to the role of the Common Wealth Party in the 2021 coup. However, in February 2022 the Court of Appeal ruled the law unconstitutional, once again allowing political parties to be legally registered.[17]

Political parties in Freice are not organised around political ideologies and do not normally align themselves with a particular position on the left-right spectrum. Instead, they are largely the descendants of the Common Wealth Party and Freice Independents. Most parties espouse broadly nationalist sentiments, as well as various forms of social democracy.[18] Political parties, therefore, operate largely according to post-coup allegiances, with their members only loosely associated with one another.

There are currently two political parties represented in the Island Meeting. Homara'me Faio mapa Maio (lit. Freician Communities for Democracy; HFM) traces its roots in the opposition to the Common Wealth government, particularly Freice Independents. Former Freice Independents leader Edia Kiarai is deputy leader of the party. Homa'me re Unohia (lit. Citizens in Union or Citizens in Unity; HU) is primarily led and supported by former Common Wealth Party associates and upholds the policies and legacy of the former government.

Judiciary

The Freician judiciary consists of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Summary Court, and the Village Court. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches, maintaining links with the government and legislature through the Law Services Committee.[19]

The courts' system is regulated by the Constitution of Freice. The Court of Appeal has unlimited jurisdiction in all civil and criminal proceedings, consisting of the Chief Justice and three other justices.[20] The Chief Justice is usually a Riamese barrister or solicitor, appointed by the Administrator to serve a renewable three-year term. The Chief Justice does not permanently reside in Freice, traveling to the island to hear cases when necessary. Sometimes, when there is unanimity amongst the other justices, the Chief Justice is not consulted.[20]

The High Court is the main court for most serious criminal and serious matters, with the Court of Appeal usually hearing appeals rather than acting as a court of first instance.[21] Defendants may choose to be tried by either a jury or solely by a bench of three judges. Crimes such as murder and manslaughter, rape, treason, and arson must be tried before the High Court.[22]

Summary Courts are intermediate courts that deal with serious cases not requiring the attention of the High Court or Court of Appeal. These cases usually involve cases such as robbery, sexual assault, and certain driving offences. Cases are heard by a bench of Lawgivers, who are appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Island Meeting.[23] Judgments made in Summary Courts may be appealed to the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Village Courts are similar, hearing only low-level offences such as petty theft, criminal damage, and breach of the peace. [24]

Law enforcement is undertaken by the Island Guard, which primarily consists of officers that constitute the national police force.[25] The Island Guard is responsible to the Government Council and to the Island Meeting.[2] The Inspector is the agency's executive, appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Island Meeting.[2]

The continued problem of community justice outside of the court system has plagued the Freician legal system, and has been addressed with only limited success by successive governments.[26][27] Such high incidents of justice being administered outside of the court system have raised questions about the transparency of law enforcement and the equal application of human rights and other significant protections to all citizens.[28]

International relations

As a Riamese territory, Freice does not pursue diplomatic relations in its own right, represented internationally by Riamo. Freice does, however, maintain representative offices in order to pursue economic, cultural, and certain political interests.[29] However, only Riamo, Hoterallia and Gran Rugido maintain permanent, full-time diplomatic representation in Freice.

Despite not being a sovereign state, Freice is a member of the Saltstil Pact independent of Riamo.[30] The Freician government approved membership in July 2021, with membership widely hailed as an important step in Freice's political development.[31]

The relationship with Hoterallia has significantly developed in recent decades, with a large number of Hoterallian and Hoterallian-descended people living in Freice. In 2013, Freice and Hoterallia signed a number of cultural agreements, including student exchange programs and research on Hoterallian occupation of Freice.[32]

Freice's primary economic relationship with the rest of Riamo is governed by the Federal Customs Area, establishing a common external tariff and grants the federal Riamese government the responsibility of negotiating free trade agreements on behalf of autonomous regions.

List of representative offices

As of January 2022, the Freician government maintains representative offices in 4 countries:[29]

Country Head of mission Notes
Gassasinia Nora Poketina There is a small Gassasinian community in Freice, constituting the vast majority of the country's Muslim community. The Gassasinian government became an important unofficial ally of Freice in the latter's diplomatic dispute with Riamo in early 2022.
Gran Rugido Ekua Pika Gran Rugido is Freice's closest Saltstil Pact neighbour. Gran Rugido is an important trading partner; because of Riamo's distance from Freice, Gran Rugido imports most of Freice's food and energy supplies.
Hoterallia Tomasu Korel Hoterallia briefly occupied Freice for a decade, and a sizeable Hoterallian minority continues to reside in Freice.
Riamo Anamo Ikenoka Freice is a Country of Riamo, with Riamo responsible for Freice's foreign policy and defence. Consequently, diplomatic representatives to Riamo have widely been seen as the de facto foreign minister due to their importance in exerting Freician influence over Riamese foreign policy.

Administrative divisions

File:Administrative divisions of Freice.png
Administrative divisions of Freice.

Freice is divided into four districts, which have local government, electoral and statistical functions: Sekapa, Kekna, Geri, and Egria.[33] Each district nominates a mayor, who is appointed by the national government to oversee local administration. Mayors may attend meetings of the Island Meeting, although they are not members nor do they have any speaking or voting rights.[34]

Districts have a number of local government functions, overseeing the management of roads, local policing, environmental protection, and waste removal. Districts are governed through a form of direct democracy, in which local District Meetings approve laws which are then put to the people for final assent.[33]

Districts are further divided into 17 divisions, which are largely ceremonial and used for some statistical purposes.[35]

Following the 2021 coup, districts were abolished and their powers divided between the national government and new tekbo community governments.[36] This arrangement was confirmed in the Schedules of Government, although the districts themselves were never formally abolished. Tekbo were abolished following the removal of the Common Wealth government in December 2021.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Island Meeting > About". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Island Meeting > Government Council" Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 25 January 2021. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ": About" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ": About" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ "Assembly votes for dissolution". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "External Association". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Island Meeting > About". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nuejel approves new assembly". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 6 December 2021
  7. ↑ "Assembly votes for dissolution". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 23 January 2022
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "What is the Island Meeting?". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 7 December 2021
  9. ↑ "Island Meeting > Procedure". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Island Meeting > President". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Announcements on Provisions, December 19, 2021. Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 20 December 2021
  12. ↑ "Members". General Kiuva. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Island Meeting (President and Government) Act 2022".. Island Meeting of Freice. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Island Meeting > Government Council > Members" Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Government moves to deregister parties" Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Opposition groups form competing party" Guri Metropolitan Times. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Court of Appeal legalises political parties. Riamese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Lasting ghost of 2021 coup in Freice" Riamese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  19. ↑ Ralingsborough, Andrew P. (1999) Freician Law. Guri: University of Guri Press. p. 141. ISBN 192-4-12012-451-7.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Services > Judiciary > Court of Appeal". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > High Court". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Ralingsborough, p. 88
  23. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > Summary Court". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > Village Court". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  25. ↑ New police services inaugurated. Tama Adune oe Faio. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  26. ↑ Ferrant, Victor R. The Forgotten Island, p.304.
  27. ↑ Ralingsborough., p. 55.
  28. ↑ Report on the Administration of Justice in Freice (PDF). Government of Riamo. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Island Meeting > Government Council > External Relations". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  30. ↑ "Member state governments welcome Freician" representative.Saltstil web portal. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Saltstil membership "important next step".Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Govt signs agreement with Freice region".HHK. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Districts > About". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Districts > Mayors". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Districts > Divisions". Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  36. ↑ Local Government Amendment (Culture) Act (PDF). Island Government of Freice. Retrieved September 15, 2021.

External links

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