North Kandson

First Republic of Kandsona
Flag
Capital	Osmino
Official languages	Kandsonan, Rasyn
Recognised national languages	Farotte, Unnesh
Demonym(s)	Kandsonan North Kandsonan
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Perie Jefferson
• National Assembly Chairman	Jonathan Catalá
• Foreign Minister	Ander García
• Defense Minister	Sumy Alvade
Population
• 2020 estimate	22,372,000
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	892.7 billion
Gini	38 medium
HDI	0.837 very high
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy

The First Republic of Kandsona, most commonly known as North Kandson, is a nation located on the continent of Euronia, bordered by Rettoa, Tyrtha, South Kandson, and Lissatha. It has a population of 14.3 million people, with the capital and largest city being Osmino. Other major cities include Olkchester, Klomouth, Chocaster, Lamstin, and Fleport. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is administratively divided into seven regions. Its coastline along the southwestern Vasilin Sea grants it access to the Northern Ocean and international shipping lanes.

Between the medieval period and the 20th century, different states at various times controlled the lands of modern-day North Kandson, including the Parabocan empire, Slavic Union, and the Saterocian kingdoms. It was unified under one nation in 1299, and remained so until directly after the World War when it was torn into civil war in 1961, with the south aiming to steer the country into a communist republic supported by the UCSS and SU, and the north aiming to split away and maintain capitalism supported by Zamastan. The North won the war in 1967, and quickly prospered economically thanks to vast oil deposits and investments by the country's first president, Cristo Janeto. After Janeto's death in 1975, João dos Senell became president and was widely recognized as authoritarian, having halted elections and suppressed demonstrations against his rule. Regional crisis like the Vasilin Sea crisis, the 1971 Central Euronian depression, and the War in Cascutia led to North Kandson's standout as a nation propped-up by capitalist powers internationally being evidenced in contrast to less stable nations bordering it. By 2006, widespread opposition to dos Senell's 30-year rule forced dos Senell to resign, and Perie Jefferson came to power in November 2006. Jefferson, originally seen as a progressive change to dos Senell, allowed for elections though won each time with overwhelming support, causing the international community to cite the results as illegitimate. In 2024, the Roca War broke out between Kandson and Rettoa over the disputed Roca Inlet, and quickly escalated into a wider regional conflict.

Jefferson heads a highly centralized authoritarian government. North Kandson ranks low in international measurements of freedom of the press and civil liberties, but holds a highly diversified and strong economy. North Kandson is a member of the CCA and shares diplomatic relations with nearly 100 countries. It is also a member of the Economic Union of East Euronian Nations. Though hostilities and insurgent activity remained constant throughout the 20th century, North and South Kandson signed a peace agreement in 2002 which subsided territorial disputes and ended the lasting fighting. It has tense relations with some neighboring countries, namely ACES countries and Sateroc. North Kandson is considered a middle power in the region of north central Euronia, being a key regional ally of WEDA members, notably Zamastan which is granted military access to some bases in the country.

Etymology

The native Kandsonan name for Kandson is Kanska. The name is derived from the Kandas, a West Lissathan tribe who inhabited the basin of present-day Greater Lissathan region (6th–8th century CE). The tribe's name stems from the noun Kand meaning rocky field, which in-itself originates from the word Kind- indicating flatland diversified by rocky geography. The etymology alludes to the topography of the region and the flat landscape of Greater Lissatha. The name Kandson, or Kandsona was formed in the 1560s denoting a people or nation.

Demographics

Cities

Cities in North Kandson
No.	CMA City	Population
1	Osmino	3,282,187
2	Olkchester	870,387
3	Klomouth	634,333
4	Chocaster	503,090
5	Lamstin	352,398
6	Fleport	327,373
7	Esaset	243,298
8	Mondona	230,483
9	Evlaso	186,444

Government and politics

Congress of North Kandson

Following the North's 1967 victory in the Kandson Civil War, Cristo Janeto was elected president in a democratic referendum. He was reelected to a second five-year term in 1972, but died in 1975. Janeto's Minister of Defense João dos Senell was elected to replace him, but throughout his first term he installed figures loyal to him in cabinet positions and at local levels, approving a national plebiscite regarded as "highly irregular" by most international observers. Elections throughout the remainder of dos Senell's time in office were deemed fixed to benefit him, as he won with overwhelming numerical advantages despite North Kandson's harsh human rights record and suppressing opposition to his presidency. In 2006, mass demonstrations sprung up nationwide against dos Senell, and he was forced to step down. Perie Jefferson was subsequently elected and the constitution was amended, but Jefferson's multiple reelections have also been marred in controversy.

North Kandson's judiciary is independent and includes a court of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court of North Kandson. In June 2007, North Kandson completed a nationwide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform has replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system with greater similarity to that of common law jurisdictions such as Zamastan or Quetana.

For parliamentary elections, between 1989 and 2013 the binominal system was used, which promoted the establishment of two majority political blocs at the expense of the exclusion of non-majority political groups. The Congress of North Kandson has a 50-seat Senate and a 155-member Chamber of Deputies. Senators serve for eight years with staggered terms, while deputies are elected every 4 years.

The two largest political blocs in Kandson are United Kandson and New Party.

Widespread dissent against Jefferson's government led to the rise of prominent political activists like Alexei Aerest.

Military

North Kandson Navy Frigate UNA Padilla

The North Kandson Armed Forces are composed of four branches – the Land Forces, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Territorial Defence Force. The military is subordinate to the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Kandson. However, its commander-in-chief in peacetime is the president, who nominates officers, the Minister for National Defence and the chief of staff. North Kandson military tradition is generally commemorated by the Armed Forces Day, celebrated annually on 15 August. As of 2022, the North Kandson Armed Forces have a combined strength of 87,050 active soldiers.

North Kandson imports most of its arsenal from WEDA nations, namely Zamastan, Caspiaa, and Quetana.

Compulsory military service for men, who previously had to serve for nine months, was discontinued in 2008.

Law enforcement and emergency services

Law enforcement in North Kandson is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and Administration – the State Police, assigned to investigate crimes or transgression; the Municipal City Guard, which maintains public order; and several specialised agencies, such as the North Kandson Border Guard. Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect. Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils; individual guards are not permitted to carry firearms unless instructed by the superior commanding officer. Security service personnel conduct regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.

The Internal Security Agency is the chief counter-intelligence instrument safeguarding North Kandson's internal security, identifing threats and collects secret information abroad. The Central Investigation Bureau of Police and the Central Anticorruption Bureau are responsible for countering organised crime and corruption in state and private institutions.

Emergency services in North Kandson consist of the emergency medical services, search and rescue units of the North Kandson Armed Forces and State Fire Service. Emergency medical services in North Kandson are operated by local and regional governments, but are a part of the centralised national agency - the National Medical Emergency Service.

Culture

Sport

The most popular sports in North Kandson are association football, hockey, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, mountaineering, and hiking.

The Kandson Football League, also known as Liga Kandson, is the top professional football league in the country. North Kandson footballers at their top performance are able to participate on the North Kandson national football team, which performs internationally at events such as the EFC Nations League and the World Cup.

Cuisine

North Kandson's culinary traditions show the influence of long seafaring and farming traditions, with salmon (fresh and cured), herring (pickled or marinated), trout, codfish, and other seafood, balanced by cheeses (such as brunost and gamalost), dairy products, and breads (predominantly dark/darker).

Economy

As of 2023, North Kandson's economy and gross domestic product is also one of the fastest growing among the central Euronian nations and reached a developed market status in 2018. The unemployment rate amounted to 18.9%, having increased from about 4.8% 5 years earlier Around 61% of the employed population works in the service sector, 31% in manufacturing, and 8% in the agricultural sector. It is the largest economy in the Economic Union of East Euronian Nations, with an annual GDP of 892.7 billion in 2023.