Monsa

Principality of Monsa Principado de Monsa
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Deo Juvante With God's Help
Capital	Monsa
Largest	Monsa
Official languages	Spanish
Demonym(s)	Monsegasco
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Prince	Pedro Giusti de Monsa
• Minister of State	Andrés Telle
Legislature	Parliament of Monsa
Area
•	467.63 km2 (180.55 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate	78,450
• 2017 census	75,852
• Density	179.8/km2 (465.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	209 estimate
• Total	$3.237 billion
• Per capita	$42,035
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$2.674 billion
• Per capita	$35,753
HDI (2019)	0.917 very high
Currency	Franco de Monsa (FMS)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+598
Internet TLD	.ms

Monsa, officially the Principality of Monsa (Spanish: Principado de Monsa) is an Astyrian sovereign microstate located on the coast of Teudallum. It shares border with _ on one of its sides and with the _ sea in the other; in total, Monsa covers 467.63 km² and is inhabited by 78,450 people making it one of the smallest and most densely populated nations in Astyria. Its capital and largest city is Monsa; most of the population lives spread along the coast or in small villages found in the Lucas Valley.

The history of Monsa is marked by the several conflicts with the Empire of Exponent and Cadenza, which include the Battle of Monsa (1614) as part of the War of the Magpie and the Dragon and the Siege of St. Barthélemy, in which Monsa was kept under Exponential control and administration, forcing the House of Giusti to settle in one of their colonies. The Principal House of Monsa, the House of Giusti, is believed to come from a noble family of merchants that settle in what today is Monsa around 1548, the family took advantage of an strategical location of the port and eventually built the fortress of Monsa to kept the wealth they were kneading; however, prior to their arrival, the territory of what is today Monsa was inhabited by small villagers and farmers on the valleys and small, powerless merchants on the coast, which explains the rapidity of the Giustis to take over the control in the territory. Since then and with brief interruptions, the family has ruled the Principality for over 400 years with brief interruptions of Exponential administration. During 1551, Monsa had its first contact with the Sovereign Military Order of Montesa, a Roman Catholic military order that since then, has occupied the San Isidro Hill functioning de iure as the military of the Principality, although it has occupied its efforts on international humanitarian cases more recently. Since the 60's, the Principality has grown on its international image as a wealthy touristic spot and well-known tax haven; its low taxes has resulted attractive to several international banks and corporations and since the 80's, it has undergone several reformations to take a liberal approach on business. Today, the real estate market of Monsa is one of the most expensive and the population is noted as one of the wealthiest in Astyria, with a 30% of its population being millionaires.

The economy of Monsa is heavily reliant on the services sector, in particular, the tourism and finances sector which together comprise more than an 75% of the GDP. However, agriculture, in special, the olive oil and wines production, still count as important pieces on the economy of the Principality, making the country-brand famous worldwide with high-quality, organic and exclusive products. Despite its small size, the Principality of Monsa leads regional rankings in human development, competitiveness, income per capita, globalisation, state of peace, economic freedom and low perception of corruption; in addition, its society has been regarded to as one of the most stable and pacific with a high life expectancy, currently at 81 years old. Monsa is an associated member of the EATA and a full member of the World Assembly.

Politics and government

Balmaceda Palace, seat of the Colegio de Monsa or Council of Government, the collegiate executive of the Principality.

Monsa is a parliamentary constitutional Principality, whose Head of State is the Prince of Monsa (Principe de Monsa) and the powers of the Head of Government are delegated on the Council of Government (also called in Spanish Colegio de Monsa). The constitution of Monsa dates back to 1903 and prior to the date, there were no clear boundaries between executive, legislative and judicial powers with the House of Giusti ruling Monsa as autocrats of an absolute monarchy. The carta magna of Monsa is the Constitution which was signed by the Prince of Monsa in 1903, giving several concessions and reforms throughout the past century; it defines the separation of powers into Legislative, Executive and Judicial, each of them based in different institutions.

The government of Monsa is led ceremonialy by the Head of State, the Prince of Monsa; however, the position holds no vote or voice during the decision-making process of policy. The rest of the government and executive power is composed by the ministers, which all together form the collegiate or collective decision-making body of Monsa, the Council of Government. A council composed by nine members elected by the legislative power of Monsa, after their position is assented by the Prince of Monsa, these are given a ministerial portfolios. Six of the nine members of the Council come from the party that received the most votes and three from the runner-up party. Although the Minister of State is believed to preside the executive power, whose occupying the position is first among equals and the position is rotatory with all members occupying it or being Vice Minister of State. As Head of State, the Prince of Monsa is in charge of the representation overseas of the Principality, being most of the times accompanied by one of the ministers, regarding the area in focus of the travel.

The legislative power is vested on the Junta of Monsa, a unicameral parliament composed by 28 members elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; members of the Junta are called parlamentarios or parliamentarians and these are elected to represent the different parishes that compose Monsa.