List of political parties in Estmere

Commonwealth of Estmere Folksrike Eastmarchon (Swathish) Républyique d'Estme (Flurian)
Flag of Estmere Flag Coat of arms of Estmere Coat of arms
Motto: Resurgemus velut phenicem Rise like the Phoenix
Anthem: And did those feet in ancient time
Estmere (dark green) in Euclea (light green and light grey) and in the Euclean Community (light green). Estmere (dark green) in Euclea (light green and light grey) and in the Euclean Community (light green).
Capital and largest city	Chadwelle
Official languages	Estmerish
Recognised national languages	Swathish, Flurian
Recognised regional languages	Aldman
Demonym(s)	Estmerish
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional republic
• President	Alice Roberts (Ind)
• Prime Minister	Reginald Wilton-Smyth (SDU)
• Deputy Prime Minister	Anne Buckett (RFM)
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Chamber of Peers
• Lower house	Chamber of Commons
Establishment
• Kingdom established	11th century
• Republic established	1 May 1936
• Current constitution	13 June 1938
• Founded the EC	1 January 1948
Area
• Total	284,874 km2 (109,990 sq mi)
• Water (%)	1.62
Population
• 2020 estimate	59,094,450
• 2015 census	56,519,373
• Density	198.40/km2 (513.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$2.605 trillion
• Per capita	$46,091
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$2.533 trillion
• Per capita	$44,826
Gini (2012)	25.4 low
HDI (2014)	0.919 very high
Currency	Euclo (EUC (€))
Time zone	Euclean Standard Time
Date format	dd-mm-yy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+55
Internet TLD	.es

Estmere (Swathish: Eastmarchon, Flurian: Estme), officially the Commonwealth of Estmere (Swathish: Folksrike Eastmarchon, Flurian: Républyique d'Estme), is a country in Euclea, bordering Werania and Borland to the north, Alsland, Kirenia and Hennehouwe to the west, and the Gulf of Assonaire to the south and east. The country has an estimated population of 59 million, largely centred in the capital city of Chadwelle.

Prior to the arrival of the Solarian Empire, the lands of modern day Estmere were largely inhabited by a number of Tenic tribes related to the Gauls. These tribes were assimilated into the Solarian Empire, and the region was considered an important border province by the Solarians. By the fall of Solaris, migrating Weranic tribes, most notably the Swandles, Waxons and Duthes, had occupied most of the region. These tribes eventually coalesced into the Swathish, organising themselves into seven varrying petty kingdoms, collectively known as the Septarchy. These kingdoms were conquered by powerful Verique lords from the Verliquoian Empire, who organised themselves into the Eastern Marches, an elective monarchy under Richard I.

With the collapse of Verliquoia, the Marcher lords fell to infighting in an event known as the Anarchy, which saw the Vernon dynasty ascend to a much neutered monarchy, with a nascent Parliament. This new kingdom would compete with other Euclean powers, most notably during the Amendist Wars, which saw the reformed Estmere as a major Amendist power. Estmere was also a major colonial power during this period, sponsoring colonies such as the Four Sisters in Asteria Superior. The monarchy would be reformed into a far more centralised administration during the 19th century.

Estmere was a major power in the victorious Grand Alliance during the Great War, but the country was devastated by the conflict, and the monarchy was seriously tainted by an image of ineffectiveness. This led to the abolition of the monarchy by the Transitional Government in 1936. The republican nation which followed became a sponsor of liberal democracy across the globe, helping to found both the Community of Nations and the Euclean Community. The country also dealt with a number of issues in the postwar period, such as the decolonisation of its overseas empire, emergent tensions between the Swathish and the Flurian, and a number of political and economic crises.

The Commonwealth is a federal parliamentary constitutional republic operating under the Northabbey model. It is comprised of the federal subjects of Wealdland and Flurland, the capital territory of Greater Chadwelle, and a number of overseas territories such as Kingsport. Estmere has a social market economy, which is the second largest in Euclea. It is a member of the Community of Nations, the Euclean Community, the Estmerish Council and the International Council for Democracy. It is one of the few states to operate nuclear weapons.

Etymology

The Estmerish name Estmere is derived from the Early Estmerish term est marchen, meaning Eastern Marches, which was used to refer to Estmere prior to the collapse of the Verliquoian Empire. Eventually the term became a single word, and in Estmerish the -en suffix was dropped. Both the modern Estmerish name and the modern Swathish name, Eastmarchon, derive from this. The Flurian name, Estme, is believed to be instead derived from the Old Verique term est mé, meaning sea to the east.

History

Great War

Main article: Great War (Kylaris)

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Estmere and Politics of Estmere

Alice Roberts
President

Reginald Wilton-Smyth
Prime Minister

Since the ratification of the Estmerish constitution in 1938, Estmere has been a constitutional republic operating as a federation with a parliamentary system. The country is the birthplace of the Northabbey model of government, which is characterised by the presence of a parliamentary official opposition, an executive branch comprised of members of the legislature, responsible to that legislature, in addition to a ceremonial head of state different to the head of government. In Estmere, these roles are occupied by the President and the Prime Minister, respectively.

The legislative branch of the Estmerish government is the Parliament of Estmere, which is a bicameral institution comprised of two houses; the elected Chamber of Commons and the appointed Chamber of Peers. Estmere adheres to the concept of parliamentary sovereignty, meaning that the legislative branch is considered supreme to all other branches of government, holding absolute sovereignty. Due to this concept, the judicial branch is largely independent of political control, with judges on the High Court appointed by independent committees, but has limited powers of judicial review.

Since 2016, Estmere has been governed by a coalition government comprised of the Sotirian Democratic Union and the Reform Party. Since 2019 this coalition has been led by Reginald Wilton-Smyth, who was elected as Leader of the SDU to succeed the outgoing Rupert Richardson. The Social Democratic and Co-operative Party has acted as the Official Opposition, and Robert Spencer as the Leader of the Opposition, since 2016.

Legislature

The Estmerish legsilature is the Parliament of Estmere, a bicameral institution comprised of two houses. The Chamber of Commons forms the lower house, and is elected using the additional member system, with Members elected either to represent a constituency or as part of a party list. Parliamentary terms can last for a maximum of four years, after which another election must be held. Parliament is considered to be an example of imperfect bicameralism, as the Chamber of Commons is considered supreme among the two chambers, drafts all legislation, and is capable of overruling the Chamber of Peers.

As Estmere operates in line with the concept of parliamentary sovereignty, the executive branch is assembled from members of the Chamber of Commons, and is subsequently responsible to it. The Prime Minister is officially appointed by the President, based on their ability to command the confidence of the Chamber of Commons. The Prime Minister is therefore usually the leader of the largest party in the Commons. The Prime Minister appoints members of the Commons or Peers as ministers in their Cabinet, which is shadowed by the Leader of the Opposition and their Shadow Cabinet.

The upper house is the Chamber of Peers, which acts as a house of review. Peers are appointed to the chamber to serve for a single ten year term, after which they are ineligible to serve in the chamber again. One third of the seats are appointed by the President; these appointments are required to be politically neutral experts who sit as crossbenchers, while the remaining two thirds are appointed by the devolved administrations of the constituent entities, and are not required to be non-partisan. Appointment to the Chamber of Peers is considered the highest reward in the Estmerish honours system.

Parliament is currently comprised of members representing seven parties. The centre-right Sotirian Democratic Union and the liberal Reform Party comprise the current governing coalition, while the Official Opposition is the centre-left Social Democratic and Co-operative Party. Other opposition parties are the right-wing populist Estmere First, the eco-socialist Green Party, the regionalist Party of the Swathish and the socialist Common Wealth Party.

Foreign relations

Estmere is considered to be a a historical great power, with experts placing particular emphasis on its considerable soft power. Since the conclusion of the Great War, Estmere has positioned itself as a supporter of liberal democracy across the globe, and has used its influence within international organisations to promote liberal democratic values. Estmere is a member of a number of international organisations. It is a founding member of the Community of Nations, the Euclean Community, the International Council for Democracy and the Estmerish Council. Within the Community of Nations, it enjoys a permenant seat on all six International Committees, most notably the Security Committee. It is a member of the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs, the International Trade Organisation, and is one of the B-15.

Military

The ENS Vernon is the flagship of the Vernon-class, Estmere's nuclear capable submarines.

Estmere maintains the third largest military within the Euclean Community, behind Gaullica and Werania, and is an active participant in the EC defence component. The Estmerish Defence Force (EDF) acts as the armed forces of Estmere, and is comprised of the Estmerish Army (EA), the Estmerish Navy (EN), including its Federal Marines, and the Federal Air Force (FAF). There is also the Independent Companies (IC), which acts as the special forces component of the EDF.

The commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the Prime Minister, while the Minister of Defence also exercises a number of powers in relation to the military. The President of Estmere has no involvement in the armed forces, and military personnel swear loyalty to the Commonwealth as a whole rather than to a single figure.

As of 2020, Estmere employs approximately 110,000 active personnel with roughly 50,000 personnel in reserve. Estmere's military expenditure totaled approximately €50.66 billion, just over 2% of the country's GDP. The minimum age of recruitment is 16, but active service is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Estmere is a recognised nuclear state, and so maintains a deployed arsenal of 110 nuclear weapons, all of which are sea-based.

Mandatory conscription was abolished in 1986, and since then the Estmerish Defence Force has been a professional volunteer force. Military installations are maintained on the islands of St. Robert's and Fleming, located in the Vehemens Ocean. The military operates on the principle of collective security with other EC states, and the aims of the military are outlined in the Estmerish constitution as the defence of the Estmerish people, the defence of the Commonwealth, and the defence of allied states.