Politics of Mava

The politics of Mava takes place in a framework of limited self-government as a dependent territory of Atitlan, whereby the Monarch of Atitlan is constitutional head of state and the Leader of Mava Council is head of government.

Under the islands' Organic Act, enacted in 1961, executive and legislative power is vested in the 16-member Mava Council, which delegates its executive functions to a smaller cabinet. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches. Military defence is the responsibility of Atitlan; the islands are largely demilitarised, with the Kingdom of Atitlan Air Force operating only a scientific base.

Executive branch

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
Monarch	Macuilxochitzin		1 March 2019
Representative of the Government	Jose Miguel Artigas		29 June 2022
Leader of the Council	Kausaanek Malaati		22 March 2023

The Tlatoani of Atitlan is head of state. The monarch appoints a Representative of the Government to oversee and supervise the local government, although without any political power in their own right. Executive power is de jure vested in Mava Council, although it is de facto exercised by a smaller Cabinet Committee of six members, led by the council's leader.

The cabinet is appointed as a whole by the wider Council and deals with the day-to-day running of the government. The Leader of the Council is not as powerful as state governors. This is partly because governors are popularly elected and are confirmed to be head of government in their respective state constitution. The cabinet (including the council leader) is responsible to the wider council and generally work collegially and collectively.

Current cabinet

The current Cabinet Committee was appointed by the Council on 24 March 2023. It's members are:

Name	Portfolio	Since
Kausaanek Malaati	Leader of the Council	2023
Nukavik Piitaaq	Deputy Leader of the Council Economy and Finance	2023
Akteenalak Tiivuq	Communities	2022
Bruno Acin	Public Services	2020
Iilirluk Attanuk	Health	2022
Asier Briones	Commerce	2023

There are three ex officio members of the cabinet. The Clerk is the most senior civil servant and is responsible for the administration of the council's non-political functions. The Legal Secretary is responsible for legal matters, overseeing the judiciary, and providing administrative support for lawyers and other legal officers. They advise the Council on law, the drafting of legislation, and revising and publishing laws applied in the island, working alongside the clerk. The Medical Officer for Health advises the Council on matters of public health importance, and is generally an Atitlanese physician.

Ex officio members may not be elected councillors. Kipvituk Aanaqavik has served as Clerk since 2010, Maria Del Mar Villegas has served as Legal Secretary since 2021, and Daniel Abarquero has served as Medical Officer for Health since 2019.

Legislative Branch

Mava Council (Taapiit Maava) has 16 members, all elected for a three year term by popular vote in a single at-large constituency. Prior to 2020, there were also four ex officio members: the Legal Secretary, the Medical Officer for Health, and the Representative of the Government. However, now these individuals have a right of attend but are not recognised as members, ex officio or otherwise.

The Council does not have right of initiative for primary legislation. Laws passed by the council are formally secondary legislation, enacted by right of the Organic Act. This legislation (formally titled an "Ordinance under Section 31 of the Mava Organic Act 1961") may be struck down by the federal government or, in limited circumstances, a state government.

The Council's administration is overseen by the Clerk to the Council, an office which combines the roles of chief executive and treasurer. Acting as Proper Officer of the Council, the clerk enacts the Council's decisions, signing formal proclamations of laws and other legislation it has passed and giving notice of their entry into force. As Responsible Financial Officer of the Council, the clerk also oversees financial monitoring and reporting.

Mava does not have any active political parties, operating as a non-partisan democracy. There have been a small number of political parties operating on the island, but they never achieved electoral success.

In the most recent general election, the sixteen elected members are:

1. Kausaanek Malaati* (370 votes)
2. Nukavik Piitaaq* (329 votes)
3. Talkupiq Kaquk (261 votes)
4. Mauka Urraakitilaq* (137 votes)
5. Tilurut Qurlivitaneq* (103 votes)
6. Anaayak Nelagak* (93 votes)
7. Asier Briones (92 votes)
8. Kana Tukeelat* (86 votes)
9. Talkupiq Kaquk* (69 votes)
10. Sinagaktok Quinapuq* (63 votes)
11. Qinijak Turuk* (59 votes)
12. Iilirluk Attanuk* (58 votes)
13. Nuluktuk Aanuluk (57 votes)
14. Taarjut Niunak (54 votes)
15. Sara Escrivá* (48 votes)
16. Akteenalak Tiivuq (47 votes)

Judicial branch

The territory is part of the jurisdiction of the High Court of Atlalilico (Tribunal Superior de Atlalilico, TSA). Due to the islands' location, local magistrates are appointed to hear most cases. The Magistrates' Court in Paas is not an independent court, however, but part of the TSA's magistracy. More serious cases are heard, either, by a judge present in the islands, or in Atlalilico itself.

A chief magistrate is appointed to oversee the administration of the local magistracy. Although some have referred to the position as Mava's "chief justice", their role is purely administrative and does not entail any additional power. The current chief magistrate is Alujut Saujak.

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to hold trials via video link, avoiding the need for travel between Mava and mainland Atitlan. However, due to unstable internet connectivity, this has been abandoned.

Administrative divisions

Mava has only two administrative divisions, which are largely ceremonial and have no local government function. These are Itiqip, which covers the main populated settlements, and M'takp, which covers the rest of the islands.

Prior to the establishment of Mava Council in 1929, the Paas Development Council acted as local government for Paas. The council's powers were transferred to the larger Mava Council on its creation, but was not abolished in its entirety until 1969. There is a council committee responsible for the management of Mava's islands and unpopulated areas, which acts as a de facto local authority.

See also

• Mava
• Mava Council
• List of leaders of Mava

External links

• Mava. The Global Factbook. United Nations