GOVERNMENT
Since its independence in 1962, New Courland has been a
constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations.
The British head of state is also Duke or Duchess of New
Courland, but he or she is represented in New Courland by
a Governor General with mostly ceremonial tasks. The
executive consists of the prime minister and his government.
The legislative is a unicameral parliament of 29 members, the Diet.
Elections
Elections for the Diet occur at least every four or five years by
Single
Transferable Vote. Each municipality is represented by a
certain number of members in the Diet, based on population.
Currently, Louise Charlotte has 11 seats, Zelta Kalni 5, Jauna
Piltene 4, Yeovil 3, Penllergaer 2, Kettler's Port 2, Nuestra
Señora del Perpetuo Dolor 1 and Maza Osta/Little Harbour 1.
There are not many political parties, the two most important
currently being the Conservative Party and the Progress and
Development Party. The Independence Party, big in the 60's and 70's,
still got some seats in the Diet for many years and was generally
considered a likable coalition partner if one party doesn't get an
absolute majority. However, since 1998 there have been only majority
governments.
Other parties include the National Freedom Party, Constructive Vision,
the Legal Union, the Social Consideration Party, the Citizen's Alliance,
and the Labour Party, but these don't always gain seats with every
election. In recent years, the Baltic Action Front has gained
popularity among right wing Balts; the party claims sovereignty over
the island for historical reasons and considers all other ethnic groups
inferior. In 2023, BAF won its first seat ever when its candidate in
Little Harbour won the majority of votes.
The last elections were held on 12 March 2023. The new Diet was installed
on 20 March. The new government was approved on 21 March 2023. The latest
date for the next parliamentary elections to be held is 18 April 2027.
Themes
The most important themes in the last few elections were the growing
emigration figures and how to keep New Courland sufficiently attractive
for people to stay, the increasing popularity of the right wing Baltic
Action Front and how to deal with it, as well as the unemployment rate,
which has been brought down in the past few years. Both the Conservative
Party and the Progress and Development Party claim that it was their
politics that helped the rate to decrease.
The Duke
Since New Courland became independent in 1962, the country has had only
two heads of state: Duchess Elizabeth, who was known as Queen Elizabeth (II)
in other Commonwealth Realms, until her death in 2022, after which she
was succeeded by her son, Duke Charles, who is otherwise known as King
Charles (III) in other realms of the Commonwealth. He is, as said,
represented by the Governor General of New Courland.
The official residence of the Governor General is Easter House, which is
sometimes unofficially called 'the Ducal Palace'. The incumbent Governor
General is the Deputy Governor General Tomás Caycedo acting as
Governor General since 1 July 2024, following the previous Governor
General Sir Satyavant Bhandare's end of term and awaiting the
inauguration of Jorge Liñan as the new Governor General on 8
July 2024, which was postponed due to Hurricane Beryl making landfall
in New Courland on 1 July.
The Government
The Government consists of the Prime Minister and the Ministers. After
being elected by the Diet and confirmed by the Governor General, the
Prime Minister appoints the Ministers of his Government. Although it
is not mandatory for the Prime Minister to have his or her Ministers
approved by the Diet as well, it is common custom to do this anyway.
Governments of New Courland were generally quite large, with some
administrations having up to 30 Ministers. The third Government of
Luis Lavalleja however, in office between 2011 and 2015, reduced the
number of portfolios to thirteen, a number that has been more or less
maintained until present day.
The official residence of the prime minister is Matheson House in the
centre of Louise Charlotte.
Judiciary
There are three levels of cours in New Courland. The Magistrates'
Court is the lower court, dealing with civil, family and criminal matters.
Each municipality has a Magistrates' Court, but only the Magistrates'
Court of Louise Charlotte deals with criminal matters.
The High Court, located in Louise Charlotte, deals with more serious
civil and criminal matters and acts as a Court of Appeal for matters
coming from the Magistrates' Courts.
The London-based Privy Council is recognised by New Courland as its
final Court of Appeal. A discussion has been going on to recognise
the Caribbean Court of Justice instead, but the last comment by the
Justice Ministry on the matter was, that it needs 'further investigation'.
Additionally, New Courland accepts judgements by the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights.
The highest punishment in New Courland is life sentence; the death
penalty was abolished in 1986. |
