Lariana: Difference between revisions

From the time of the implementation of the Constitution in 1870 to the [[Second Great War]], the primary political divides in the Kingdom were between pro-de Weluta Crown Liberal parties ("Unionist") and pro-independence liberal and socialist political parties ("Nationalist"). The independence movement within the Kingdom was divided between those who viewed Lariana as a standalone country and those who sought union with Veltorina. These divides were sufficient to allow the Unionists to maintain power. Since the Second Great War, nationalism has significantly been on the decline due to solidarity with the Urcean people, the [[atomic bombing of Cavosia]], and greater integration with Urcea; accordingly, politics have realigned such that professed Unionist parties have dominated the political discourse ever since. The pre-war Union and Crown Party (UCP) eventually gained more than ninety percent of the seats in the ''Curiates Temporal'' in [[1960]] before splintering into several Unionist parties, most prominently the [[Organicism|organicist]] Crown and State Party (CSP), which has won most elections since [[1980]]. Since the [[Assumption Accords]], there has been a significant interest in renewed ties with Caphiria and other nations in Sarpedon without a national independence component, a political point of view that has been increasingly embraced with the adoption of free trade and easy travel with the Caphirian province on Urlazio. In contrast, a growing minority of Unionists support the concept of annexation, integrating Lariana as a culturally distinctive [[Government_of_Urcea#State|state]] within Urcea rather than alongside it.

=== Government ===

The Kingdom of Lariana is a constitutional monarchy employing an organic democratic Constitution similar to, but not the same as, the Government of Urcea. Lariana is bound to Urcea by its King, who is also the Apostolic King of Urcea. The executive authority within the Kingdom is wielded by the Governor-General of the Kingdom of Lariana, an official appointed by the Apostolic King of Urcea with the advice and consent of the [[Concilium Daoni]] of Urcea. This official is directly nominated by the King rather than by the binding advice of any officials in Urcea; by this method, Lariana's government retains a degree of independence from Urcea and is answerable - to an extent - to the King of Lariana alone. The Governor-General is typically a Larianan who has had political and administrative experience within the Government of Urcea, especially diplomatic experience. The Governor-Generals serve five year terms and by precedent are not reappointed by the King except during times of war. The Governor-General has the authority to, subject to the legislature, organize the government of the Kingdom, direct its ministers, veto legislation, and organize the Kingdom's armies. The Governor-General serves as Commander-in-Chief (rather than the Urcean title of ''Magister Militum'') of the Kingdom's armed forces, though in practice the armed forces are typically used for local defense and emergency response due to the protection the nation receives from the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea. The Governor-General is considered the head of government of the Kingdom, and he nominates ministers to be approved by the General Curia; due to his non-partisan nature, he is bound by precedent to nominate members of the majority party in the legislature, although not always the members selected by the Majority Leader.

Legislative authority in Lariana is invested in the General Curia, a 155-member legislature based on 150 equal population districts elected nationwide, referred to as the ''Curiates Temporal'' and the designees of 5 Catholic bishops, referred to as the ''Curiates Spiritual''. Curiates serve five year terms on the same schedule as elections for Urcea's Concilium Daoni, and its reapportionment system is extremely similar. The legislature is partisan, and the leader of the majority party of the General Curia holds the title of "Curiate-President of the Kingdom of Lariana". The Curiate-President is exclusively a legislative and partisan leader, serving as Majority Leader, and does not have significant authority over the ministry or its members. The Curiate-President chooses which legislation comes to the floor of the Curia and is responsible for choosing committee chairs within the Curia.

=== Foreign relations ===

Lariana's foreign relations are largely the same as [[Urcea]]'s, and Lariana's presence abroad mostly takes the form of {{wp|consulates}} in nations which have a specific Larianan interest. The only nation with which Lariana conducts a somewhat independent foreign policy with is its neighbor [[Caphiria]], with whom it has a long relationship including both highs and lows. Much of the Kingdom's relationship with Caphiria is advised and overseen by the Urcean [[Ministry_of_State_(Urcea)#Department_for_Historic_Continental_Concerns|Department for Historic Continental Concerns]], which ensures Urcea and its dependencies do not give offense to [[Caphiria]] within the context of [[Imperial Diplomacy (Sarpedon)|Imperial Diplomacy]].