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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, a country of the Federation of Riamo, takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country with an executive presidency, whereby the president serves as head of government and chief executive.[1] The largest party or coalition within the Kivunna forms the government. Legislative power is vested in the government and the Kivunna (parliament), the members of which are elected in multi-party elections. The judicial branch is independent of the executive and legislative branches.

Freice has full autonomy in near-all areas, with the federal Riamese government maintaining responsibility only for some foreign affairs, defence, and monetary and fiscal policy.[2] The Freician government, however, has assumed many foreign policy-related powers, and is recognised as having an independent personality in international relations.[2] The most recent constitution was enacted in April 2022.[3]

Offices

Office Name Party Since
Sovereign of Freice Diana II N/A 8 January 1983
President Aniara Neileka MURO Alliance 11 April 2022[a]
President of the Kivunna Siega Pokigna MURO Alliance 13 June 2022

The head of state is Diana II, Queen of Riamo, who is styled Sovereign of Freice.

The President of the Country of Freice (Freician: Raioa oe te ma Mulo oe te ma Landua oe Faio) alternatively and commonly referred to as the President of Freice (Raioa oe te ma Mulo oe Faio) is the head of government and de facto head of state. They are directly elected alongside members of the Kivunna, in which they are permitted to sit (but not vote), and lead the Government Council.[4]

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.[5] Ministers are nominated by the President from amongst delegates in the Kivunna, and are approved by the Kivunna by a majority vote. The president cannot remove ministers without the approval of the Kivunna, enjoying the power only to allocate responsibilities.[5][4]

Constitution

The Constitution of Freice, enacted in April 2022, outlines Freice's political and economic system. It provides for a democratic representative state in a broadly republican form, in which a president directly elected by the people is chief executive, held to account by a democratically-elected legislature.[6] It also provides for an independent judiciary, as well as the protection of a number of rights and freedoms.

Freice's first constitution - the Constitution Act - was enacted in 1972, with a number of subsequent amendments. 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.[7] The current constitution replaced the 1972 constitution on 11 April 2022.

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."[8] The act also describes the Freician people as constituting a "sovereign personality", allowing for the right to self-determination.[9]

Legislative branch

Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Kivunna, often known as the Meeting, which is composed of 20 members elected popular vote and the President of Freice.[10] The Kivunna was initially established as the Island Meeting 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.[11][12] It was renamed the Kivunna by the 2022 Constitution of Freice.[3] It meets at the Kaimo Landua (National House) in the Freician capital Sekapa, with the current Kivunna elected on 16-17 January 2022.

The Kivunna 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 Freice Autonomy Act.[13] The Kivunna'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.[14] The courts provide judicial oversight.

The President of the Kivunna is the chief officer and highest authority of the assembly.[15] 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.[16]

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):[17]

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

Kaimo Potio, the residence of the President of Freice

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.[5] 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 head of the Government Council is the President of Freice. Members of the council make key decisions collectively, responsible as one for the consequences of these decisions. Ministers of the Government Council are appointed from the membership of the Kivunna, with nominations made by the floor leaders of each represented party.[b] Ministers are accountable, in law, only to the Kivunna, with the president unable to remove a minister without the Kivunna's approval.[18][19]

The President may appoint a deputy (officially Vice President and Principal Minister of State), who chairs meetings of the Government Council in their absence. They do not serve as acting president automatically when the president is unable to exercise their duties, but serve rather as a principal advisor and chief organiser of government activity.[19] When the President and Vice President come from different parties, it is the individual who's party has the most seats in the Kivunna that generally wields greater power.

Government Council

As of January 2022, the makeup of the Government Council is as follows:[20]

Portfolio Incumbent Party Took office
Ministers
President of Freice
Chair of the Government Council 		H.E. Hon. Aniara Neileka MURO 11 April 2022[c]
Vice President and Minister of Cabinet Administration
Minister of Economy and Finance 		Hon. Seime Etu MK KTP 20 June 2022
Minister of Justice and Interior Hon. Kita Peqi MK MURO 20 June 2022
Minister of Health, Education and Culture Hon. Eietu Mekapate MK KTP 20 June 2022
Minister of Environment, Resources and Conservation Hon. Hureta Elemaneria MK MURO 20 June 2022
Also in attendance
Leader of the Kivunna Hon. Edia Kiarai MK MURO 20 June 2022

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.[21]

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.[22] The Chief Justice is usually a Riamese barrister or solicitor, appointed by the President 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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

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 President on the advice of the Kivunna.[25] 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. [26]

Law enforcement is undertaken by Freice Police Service, which primarily consists of officers that constitute the national police force.[27] The Freice Police Service is responsible to the Government Council and to the Kivunna.[28] The Inspector-General is the agency executive, appointed by the President on the advice of the Kivunna.[29]

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.[30][31] 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.[32]

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.[33] 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.[34] The Freician government approved membership in July 2021, with membership widely hailed as an important step in Freice's political development.[35]

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.[36]

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:[33]

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:Map of the Districts of Freice.png
The districts of Freice.

Freice is divided into nine districts, established by the Local Government Act 2022:[37]

  • Dukorane
  • Koimuke
  • Marana Pratsa
  • Mopeta Pratsa
  • Peka
  • Ritora Iisa
  • Roheo Radei Oratite
  • Sekapa
  • Sekapa Seiva

The districts are used for statistical and administrative purposes, with the national census coordinated separately in each region and national welfare provision (relief) organised and distributed through district relief exchanges.[38]

Each district (apart from Sekapa and Roheo Radei Oratite) are further divided into 19 ritora (lit. 'land'), which each contain roughly 500-750 people. Ritora are used solely for statistical reasons, although some have formed their own local residents' associations.[37]

Local government

Each of the nine districts has their own local government bodies, called authorities (Freician: maotaino). Authorities are elected by the district's electorate and serve a one-year term. The Local Government Act 2022 grants the authorities the following key responsibilities:[37]

  1. to further economic development and regeneration;
  2. to oversee the management of local services;
  3. to promote employment;
  4. to safeguard health and safety;
  5. to implement national legislation;
  6. to encourage and contribute to sustainable development.

District authorities may pass local ordinances in areas determined by the Local Government Act, which are enforced like national laws but cannot conflict with them. Each authority is led by a mayor (Freician: keomoru), who is directly elected by the district's electorate and is the authority's chief executive.

Authorities generally pass ordinances relating to housing, waste collection, local planning, certain licensing affairs, cemeteries and the care of the dead, and certain childcare provisions.[39]

Roheo Radei Oratite also functions as a regional area, enjoying fewer powers than other districts. This is because the district is home to the Sete Hills and a substantial part of Freice's protected natural environment. Consequently, the central government maintains a significant presence in the area, with more powers over planning and environmental management.[40]

Mayoralties

District authority Post Current mayor Party First election Next election Population (2020)[41]
Dukorane Mayor of Dukorane Neia Basima Independence Party 2022 2023 1,102
Koimuke Mayor of Koimuke Tupala Saima MURO Alliance 2022 2023 1,681
Marana Pratsa Mayor of Marana Pratsa Tamia Meinoa Kana's Empowered Citizens 2022 2023 1,452
Mopeta Pratsa Mayor of Mopeta Pratsa Vemisa Tafugoa Kana's Empowered Citizens 2022 2023 1,107
Peka Mayor of Peka Kana Tenqel Kana's Empowered Citizens 2022 2023 1,503
Ritora Iisa Mayor of Ritora Iisa Fema Pitioa MURO Alliance 2022 2023 1,343
Roheo Radei Oratite Mayor of Roheo Radei Oratite Apia E. Umagarema Independence Party 2022 2023 1,239
Sekapa Mayor of Sekapa Mama Paria Remegaraimo MURO Alliance 2022 2023 2,810
Sekapa Seiva Mayor of Sekapa Seiva Iiqa Tuva MURO Alliance 2022 2023 1,921

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Acting from 11 April to 10 June 2022
  2. ↑ Prior to June 2022, the president nominated ministers from amongst and with the consent of the Kivunna. However, following the Appointment of Ministers (Presidential Powers) Act 2022, this power has ben stripped from the president.
  3. ↑ Leader of the Government Council from January 20 to April 11, 2022. Served as acting President until 10 June 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Government Council > President". Government of Freice. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Federal relations with Freice". Federal Government of Riamo. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Meeting approves constitution draft". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Government Council > President". Government of Freice. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Government Council" Government of Freice. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Constitution of the Country of Freice" (PDF). Government of Freice. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Assembly votes for dissolution". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Government Council > Freice-Riamo Relations". Government of Freice. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Freice Autonomy Act 1969" (PDF). Federal Government of Riamo. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "Kivunna > About". Government of Freice. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nuejel approves new assembly". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 6 December 2021
  12. ↑ "Assembly votes for dissolution". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 23 January 2022
  13. ↑ "What is the Island Meeting?". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 7 December 2021
  14. ↑ "Island Meeting > Procedure". Government of Freice. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Island Meeting > President". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Announcements on Provisions, December 19, 2021. Government of Freice. Retrieved 20 December 2021
  17. ↑ "Members". General Kiuva. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  18. ↑ "Appointment of Ministers (Presidential Powers) Act 2022" (in Freician). Government of Freice. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Government Council > Members" Government of Freice. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Government Council > Members" Government of Freice. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Ralingsborough, Andrew P. (1999) Freician Law. Guri: University of Guri Press. p. 141. ISBN 192-4-12012-451-7.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Services > Judiciary > Court of Appeal". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > High Court". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  24. ↑ Ralingsborough, p. 88
  25. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > Summary Court". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Services > Judiciary > Village Court". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  27. ↑ New police services inaugurated. Tama Adune oe Faio. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "About". Freice Police Services. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  29. ↑ "About > Governance". Freice Police Services. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  30. ↑ Ferrant, Victor R. The Forgotten Island, p.304.
  31. ↑ Ralingsborough., p. 55.
  32. ↑ Report on the Administration of Justice in Freice (PDF). Government of Riamo. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Island Meeting > Government Council > External Relations". Government of Freice. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Member state governments welcome Freician" representative.Saltstil web portal. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Saltstil membership "important next step".Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Govt signs agreement with Freice region".HHK. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 "Meeting passes local government reform". Radio and Television Freice. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  38. ↑ "Districts". Government of Freice. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  39. ↑ "Districts > Responsibilities". Government of Freice. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  40. ↑ "Districts > Roheo Radei Oratite". Government of Freice. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  41. ↑ "Analysis of Census 2021 Data" (PDF). Government of Freice. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

External links

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