The Caropsyne Pontanore

The Caropsyne Pontanore Eda Pontanore infrenon Carops
Flag
Anthem: Theomem vu eda Pontanore
Status	Independent
Capital	Fornænda
Largest	Polmona
Official languages	Standard Caropsyne
Recognised national languages	Ardalian
Recognised regional languages	Phett Cartenora Porfino
Religion	Secularism
Demonym(s)	Caropsyne
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Premier	Ilmer Yutrias
• Interior Minister	Saria Larezana
• Foreign Minister	Almas Josc
• Fostana Chair	Haldric Jarvalde
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Fostana
• Lower house	Pontiana
Establishment
• Unified Kingdom	1266
• 1st Pontanore	1843
• Fostana Rule	1933
• 2nd Pontanore	1993
• 3rd Pontanore	2019
Population
• 2020 census	210,115,925
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$7.425 trillion
• Per capita	$35,340.80
Gini (2020)	31.2 medium
HDI (2020)	.887 very high
Currency	Credita Pontanoresca (SCC)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+405
ISO 3166 code	CP
Internet TLD	.po

The Caropsyne Pontanore (Standard Caropsyne: Eda Pontanore infrenon Carops) is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy in Southern Thearea, Polythia, and Hectaria. It borders x to the north, Corsimenia to the west and southwest, Loslakia to the east, and Ardalia to the southeast. It shares maritime borders with Ardalia and Corsimenia. Its capital is Fornænda and largest city is Polmona. The country has a population of 210.11 million. In total, the Pontanore covers an area of Z square kilometers organized into 23 states. The word "Pontanore" signifies "Community" and "Shared Existance" in Standard Caropsyne.

[high level history]

[general intro]

Politics and Government

Prior to 1843, the Unified Caropsyne Kingdom was led by executive monarchs who were advised by the ancient Fostana, a body made up of aristocratic landowners and religious officials. The last autocratic monarch of Carops was Aldrand, who is well-known for his staunch resistance to demands for more participation in government and democracy by the working classes. He was succeeded by his liberally-minded son Olimand in 1842 who agreed a year later to the downgrading the monarchy from a Royal Family to merely a Royal House, with a democratic government governing the country's affairs. This led to the creation of today's bicameral parliament with the creation of the elected Pontiana. Today, Government of the Pontanore is split between Parliament and the States. Outsiders consider the Pontanore to be a dominant-party state due to the Socialist Party's staggering number of seats in the Pontiana.

The Parliament consists of an upper, appointed house, the Fostana, and a lower elected house, the Pontiana. Both bodies sit in the capital of Fornænda.

The Premier (Pontissiano/a) is both the head of state and government of the entire Pontanore. By law, the Premier is the leader of the largest single block in the Pontiana. He or she holds all executive power (except for those reserved for the Fostana) and is responsible for appointing the Cabinet and the introduction of legislation for the chamber's approval. The Premier and Cabinet members are obligated to answer State Questions weekly on any possible topic. The current Premier is Ilmer Yutrias, leader of the Socialist Party, who has served since 3 March 2020.

The bureaucracy of the Pontanore is handled by the Civil Directorate (Standard Caropsyne: Zementa Fosa Pontanoresca). They are responsible for setting and providing oversight on rules and regulations based on legislation passed by the Pontiana. The Directorate is led by three officials appointed by the Premier: Olimand Gosc (Chair), Limia Cattanna (Secretary), and Miras Dorno (Operations Secretary). By law, officials of the Civil Directorate are supposed to be politically neutral, but this has not always been the case: the most notable examples involve Secretary Cattanna and her attempts at privitizing the national airline or a new medication pay structure at the State Dispensory. Both of these instances were stopped by the Civil Directorate Chair and further above, the Premier.

Pontanore States

The Pontanore is divided into 23 States or Pontafosti. Each is allowed to elect its own legislature to deal with local matters which do not affect other states, but no elected leadership. Each of the Pontanore States is led by an Administrator-General appointed by the Central Government in Fornænda. They both the leader of their respective state's legislature and Civil Directorate.

Pontanore States cannot violate rulings from the Pontiana, the Pontanore's Parliament, nor can they contravene any of the economic planning set forth in the Pontanore General Economic Program. They cannot change tax levels, nor can they alter public services dramatically. They also have no say on defence, foreign affairs, or interstate transport, all of which are regulated centrally. They do have a large area of responsibility in the provision of utilities and infrastructure, internal transport, industrial and agricultural affairs, and low level finance. Each has its own measured level of autonomy where some states, such as Euvodora, are extremely proactive in intervening in public life. Others, notably Alzana and Pepina, are more reserved in the responsibilities they have assumed.

A further designation, Pontanore Territory (Pontasto), remains available but is no longer applied to any component of the state.

Every state is further subdivided into local administrative areas known as Astozarno.

State	Capital	Largest City	Region	Administrator-General	Population (2020)	Seats in the Pontiana
Alzana	Ludora Zalma	X	X	Miria Lindo	X	X
Carops	Fornænda	X	X	N/A	X	X
Casona	Gomosc	X	X	Ephia Vanzerna	X	X
Chonoré	Aemont	X	X	Marias Peruck	X	X
Eccora	Zarma	X	X	Kolman Folmer	X	X
Ementa	Osmia	X	X	Juna Vettina	X	X
Euvodora	Polmona	X	X	Ludomir Zepaldo	X	X
Famagosca	Lirana	X	X	Ludomir Fereno	X	X
Ferana	Chendo	X	X	Alza Condano	X	X
Forlaea	Fazona	X	X	Pholomir Apanzo	X	X
Malventina	Zapelo	X	X	Baras Acco	X	X
Nascana	Soncaldo	X	X	Jenas Alpho	X	X
Pantara	Falpa	X	X	Haldric Cronas	X	X
Permenta	Lasjana	X	X	Jalmand Vetno	X	X
Pepina	Tavino	X	X	Soria Vorno	X	X
Phosmara	Larima	X	X	Alia Drea	X	X
Santanora	Vinzera	X	X	Lidia Folca	X	X
Saria	Zementa	X	X	Firnan Ezzeco	X	X
Sorana	Pentazonté	X	X	Miras Zettena	X	X
Tovia	Lenorias	X	X	Phodric Gorsca	X	X
Vasora	Ezecco	X	X	Firnan Osco	X	X
Verezana	Espera	X	X	Almas Drazanno	X	X
Zarta	Larmas Calpé	X	X	Conorim Osk	X	X

Military

• Pontanore Defense Council - consultation and guidance on matters of national security and defense.

Ilmer Yutrias, Premier General Darmas Josta, Pontanore Chief of Staff General Larimas Folmer, Head of Army General Lenas Gormond, Chair of Casmara General Uldo Dazana, Chair of Sadriana Admiral Eremas Cosmond, Chief Admiral, Pontanore Navy Air Chief Marshal Olimand Lornas, Head of Air Force Palman Frando, Pontanore Defence Minister Saria Larezana, Pontanore Interior Minister Almas Josc, Pontanore Foreign Minister Miria Dorno, Operations Secretary, Civil Directorate

Service branches

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Casmara: Intelligence
• Sadriana: Special Forces - former Damosca members

Law Enforcement

The Pontanore operates a federalized police system overseen by the Interior Ministry. At the local level, the Astozarno Police (Formera Policenta Astozarna) is responsible for civilian law enforcement in each administrative area across the Pontanore. They are supported by the Formera Ponta, the militarized police (i.e. gendarmerie) who in times of war can be activated to participate in military operations alongside the Defense Forces. Each state maintains their own detective divisions.

Pontanore-wide, there are a number of enforcement organizations including:

• The Casmara is the Pontanore-wide special police force, bureau of investigations, and foreign intelligence service. Casmara agents are also responsible for the protection of the Premier and their family. Agents also protect foreign dignitaries while they are within the country. The Zedenta Septenonto ('Department 17') has the notorious role of 'ensuring Pontanore interests in foreign states,' taking on some of the characteristics of the banned Damosca.
• The Formera Policenta Transporta (The Transport Police) is responsible for the security of the nation's transportation network from its railways, highways and airports to public transportation systems. They are also responsible for customs and immigration duties at the Pontanore's major international airports and seaports.
• The Sadriana is the Pontanore's armed response unit that deals with international terrorism, diplomatic crises, hostage situations, high-risk arrests, barricaded criminals, and riot/crowd control. Some elements of the Sadriana serve in the military as special forces.

Foreign Relations

The Pontanore has considerable influence over Thearea, Polythia, and Hectaria and is regarded one of the world's superpowers in international affairs. Its policy is one of using every avenue of diplomacy available first before resulting to conflict, but if such an event were to arise, it will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the nation's military might to bear upon the aggressor. The Pontanore's Diplomatic Corps is focused on further co-operation, mutual economic deveopment, and deepening relations with other neighboring member states of the Thearean Community. The Caropsyne Pontanore is one of the original founders and permanent Security Council members of the Council of Nations. Many international organizations are based in the capital.

Of all the Pontanore's various arrangements, the alliance with the Republic of Ardalia is the most vital. While the neighboring country is many times smaller than the Pontanore and does not possess a military force of equal size, its geographic position makes it the crossroads of Thearea. The last four Caropsyne Premiers have all provided Ardalia with sigificant military and economic development aid to both enable the Ardalian military to procure the latest in military hardware and vehicles, but boost industrial production and social investment.

Though the Pontanore has not engaged in a military conflict in over two decades, the nation still has a number of international disputes it is attempting to resolve including:

• Illicit drugs: Ardalia has tried to slow the shipment of eastern heroin but not all shipments are caught. Pontanore forces are constantly on the outlook for uncaptured transport; shipment of amphetamines and methamphetamines from other nations, including Loslakia is a major issue.
• Caropsyne minority rights: Caropsyne-Prassian relations are at an all-time low and the Prassian Assembly have passed several pieces of legislation that sigificantly curtails freedoms and rights to those not of Prassian nationality. The Pontanore have brought the matter before the Thearean Community and has threatened to elevate it to the Council of Nations.
• Ongoing Tensions with Loslakia: The Pontanore and Loslakia have long been against each other. Both nations have not engaged in war since 1942, there have been no less than ten instances in the past seventy years (except during the Ardalian-Caropsyne War) where a minor dispute could become a hot war. Diplomacy has prevailed thus far, but no one knows when it may not be enough.
• Dormondism: Ever since the failed Parliament Coup in 2000, many Dormodists and former Damosca agents are still on the run, posing a serious security risk to the Pontanore.

Economy

Infrastructure

Communications

Radiotelevisia Pontanoresca, abbreviated as RAP, is the national television and radio broadcaster for the entire Caropsyne Pontanore. It operates 5 primary television channels, offers an assortment of subscription-based channels and programs 4 radio stations. Nearly 99% of Caropsynes possess both a radio and a television set. A portion of RAP's revenue comes from annual license fees.

Postal services are administered by Eda Posta, a State organization which administers postal services throughout the Pontanore. Stamps are sold at a set price but can be expensive if the destination is a country with which the Pontanore does not have a postal agreement. Eda Posta ships post on a weekly basis. Express post requires an additional charge but is available at almost all Eda Posta post offices. Foreigners have to pay an additional insurance charge for the shipment of large or delicate items abroad or within the Pontanore.

PONTANET is the Pontanore's fixed telephony, mobile, and internet provider. The organization is legally obligated to operate, upgrade, and maintain the grid. Like most countries, the Pontanore has seen a drop in the number of fixed telephone lines since the mid-1990's with the introduction of cellular phones. 98% of Caropsynes own and maintain a cellualar line while only a small majority still have a fixed line today. All parts of the Pontanore have access to stable 3G service thanks to extensive investment by the Government, however faster 4G - and in some cases even 5G - speeds can only be found in major urban areas. Internet services vary from state to state where all Thearean and Hectarian states have reliable broadband service, the same cannot be said for Polythian (except for Euvodora) states where over 50% of households only have dial-up. The Pontanore's calling code is +405 and its top-level domain is .po.

Demographics

Education

Education in the Pontanore is regulated by the State and provided to all citizens. Educational standards and systems vary in the different areas of the Pontanore, in order to take cultural, ethnic and historical influences into consideration. The standard of education in Carops itself is among the highest in the region, with free education provided to all abilities until the age of 19. Caropsyne students begin their academic lives at the age of 5 and attend primary education in Ponitio (State Institutions) until the age of 12. At 12, they are transferred to Fostitio (National Educational Institutions), where they will get their Pontanore Educational Certificates (P.E.Cs), which will determine their future opportunities.

The Pontanore has a number of distinguished higher educational institutions, all steeped in history. Caropsyne universities are considered the best in Paradisia. The following six major institutions of higher learning are the finest in Pontanore, and amongst the elite institutions of the world.

• The University of the Pontanore, Fornænda (Formerly the Imperial University)
• Holmas University, Ariatra
• Larimas University, Triana
• University of Polmona, Polmona
• Technika, Polmona
• Pontanore Academy of Arts (Eda Sambianto Chiardo infrenon eda Pontanore), Fornænda

The Pontanore invites thousands of foreign students each year to get a Caropsyne-granted degree. In Triana, Larimas University has been responsible for the cultivating the great literary genuses of the past two hundred years. Further to the south in Ariatra, Holmas is renowned for its expansive science background and has been the site of many major breakthoughs in medicine and physics - thanks in part to the substantial financial grants it receives for research both publicaly and privately amounting to sums rivaling many small nations. The University of Polmona and the Technika are the newest institutes but they've grown rapidly to contest the status of Fornænda-based University of the Pontanore.

Health

The Caropsyne Pontanore operates a vast universal healthcare system, which is available to all citizens of the Pontanore. All necessary medical care is provided free of charge, whilst elective procedures have charges set by the Medical Directorate of the Pontanore, in consultation with the Pontanore Medical Council, a group which represents the interests and concerns of the medical profession within the Pontanore. The Pontanore's healthcare system has been praised by several regional reports, as well as regarded with admiration by the governments of some other nations. Despite this, it is often regarded as inefficient, unequally distributed, and frequently under-funded.

Caropsynes have very high life expectancy: in 1993, this was 76 for men and 80 for women, by 2005 this the gap between men and women closed to near equal. Today, men can expect to live well into early eighties with women having the highest average in the world at eigty-six. Infanty morality rates in the Pontanore is very low, that of 3.21 out of every 1000 people. Death rates have also declined to all-time lows. However, conditions vary from minority to minority and from state to state. Those living Polythia generally have worse expectancy than an individual living in Thearea or Hectaria.

The differences between the Pontanore States of Thearea and Hectaria against Polythia can be seen in terms of food supplies and water availability. All states in the 'north' have adequate water sources but depending on the state, self-sufficiency in terms of food can vary. While most northern states can produce a considerable amount of foodstuffs due to their fertile fields, nearly half of all grains are cultivated on the warm plains of the breadbasket states of Euvodora and Famagosca in Polythia, two southern states with the greatest water availability. Other parts of the continent's states can experience water shortages now and again. The industralization of some states has caused greater water pollution. The Government is committed to combating this.

Smoking in the Pontanore has decreased greatly in the past decades for both men, yet women have had a less definitive pattern. The Pontanore implemented a nationwide ban on smoking indoors in public places in 2005 - today only a third of all men smoke when back in the 1970's, this was nearly two-thirds of the male populace. Women have only slightly increased their rate but the Health Ministry has called the ban an overwhelming success.

Like all Thearean states, the Pontanore is witnessing an ageing populace but still maintains a sufficient rate of fertility, ensuring stable population growth. The same cannot be said for neighboring Ardalia or Loslakia.

Culture

Media

The Caropsyne Pontanore has been consistently ranked highest in press freedom both within Thearea and around the world, but that has not stopped some Governments from attempting to influence some publications to communicate their message, greying the lines between free press and propaganda at times. There are over seventy newspapers spanning the political and language spectrum of the country, in addition to a further thirty-five magazines (like the Pontanore Cultural Review). All are registered with the Press Association of the Pontanore. Fornænda is home to the major Pontanore-wide papers, and there are more localized gazettes in each state. The four major papers are:

• Caropsesci Libo Tribuna - moderate
• Eda Pontanoresca - moderate
• Eda Lampasarra - left-wing
• Gormelda-Zarpe - right-wing

Radiotelevisia Pontanoresca, abbreviated RAP, is the national television and radio broadcaster providing news, cultural, and entertainment programming for the entire Caropsyne Pontanore. It operates 5 general television channels, an assortment of subscription-based channels, and programs 4 radio stations. RAP is financed in part through annual licenses at a rate of 205C per year. Terese Fento, Fornænda is the headquarters, but has additional studios in Polmona, Zarma, and Larima which alongside Pontanore-wide content also produce regional programming. Imprenta Pontanoresca Unanté is the flagship news program and RAP is well-known for hosting the world's longest running talk show Politica. It is a member of the Thearean Broadcasting Union.

Holidays

Date	Name	Recognized?	Notes
January 1	New Year’s Day	Yes	Marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar year.
March 8	Women's Day	Yes	Celebrates women and the women's rights movement.
March/April (varies)	Easter	Yes	Catheric Festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jezus.
May 1	Labor Day	Yes	Celebrates the working class and the international worker's movement.
May 16	Saint Kozak's Day	Yes	Feast day of Catheric patron saint St. Kozak.
June 14	Remembrance Day	Yes	Dedicated to the cause of world peace and to honor veterans of the Great War and other conflicts since then.
Second Monday of October	Harvest Festival	Yes	Gives thanks to the harvest.
November 7	National Day	Yes	Celebrates the Ardalian Republic.
December 24	Christmas Eve	Yes	Day before Christmas.
December 25	Christmas	Yes	Catheric Festival commemorating the birth of Jezus.
December 31	New Year’s Eve	Yes	Marks the last day of the Gregorian calendar year.