Nordwalt
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| Flag of Nordwalt | |
| Motto: Pecvniate obedivnt omnia | |
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| Region | Novimir |
|---|---|
| Capital | Tormarkt |
| Official Language(s) | Norden |
| Leader | The Ministers (See below) |
| Population | 7,000,000 |
| Currency | Pebl |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Contents
Politics
Government Organisation
Political power resides in an elected Duma which consists of 100 officials, 5 of which are executive Ministers who are responsible for various areas of the government's actions. Every citizen of Nordwalt (those who have completed National Service in some form or another) has a vote and can vote for any candidate they wish. The 100 candidates with the most votes are elected to the Duma where they sit as electees as part of a lower parliament for a four year period. Elected members of the Duma participate in the Executive Elections, in which they elect the Ministers.
These ministers are given executive powers in order to best govern, with the help of the Duma, their respective responsibilities. Ministers are elected every year in order to be accountable to the Duma. Ministers will choose teams of aides from within the Duma to help make decisions. This elected government is supported by a civil service consisting of career administrators and those undertaking national service. Ministers are generally appointed soley on their merits and abilities, but an individual's appointment may also reflect the political leanings of Duma electees. There are no political parties as such but most electees align themselves with others as part of loose coalitions based on similar political interests.
At the local level of government, Duma electees choose or are appointed by lottery an administrative region to govern. They are required to sit on local councils consisting of a number of locally elected officials and partake in local policy decisions. In practice, the local councils carry out most of the work and unless the electee specifically chose the region in question he will spend most of his time at the Duma working in one of its various departments.
Current Ministers
Foreign Minister (External Affairs, Diplomacy etc.) - Leonard Adler Economic Minister (High level - Monetary and Fiscal Policy) - Roland Branders Trade and Industry Minister (Lower Level - Microeconomic scale) - Meyer Shulz Civil Minister (Legal issues, cultural issues, other internal issues) - Dieter Nauman Securities Minister (Police and Military) - Horst Schlosser
Duma Electees of Note
- Leonard Adler - Foreign Minister - An elderly electee, he has served for well over 30 years in the Duma, serving two years as Economic Minister and then the last eleven as Foreign Minister. Respected by most, but some consider his views outdated.
- Johann Sandeck - A liberal, calling for international openness. Has served in the Duma only since the last election but has made his mark. Was recently used as a figurehead in a movement to force Adler to compromise on several issues.
- Roland Branders - Economic Minister - Elected to ministerial duties after the previous incumbent Gerard Kramer failed to be re-elected to the Duma at the last elections. Has been instrumental along with Shulz in the recent period of strong economic growth.
- Meyer Shulz - Trade and Industry Minister - Has served as minister for the last six years, bringing in many reforms to industrial pollution regulations and has recently secured the commissioning of three new nuclear power stations.
- Antje Richter - Currently the only female electee to the Duma and the centre of some controversy over public finances.
- Horst Schlosser - Securities Minister - A hard nosed ex-army general, since retired and serving as an electee. Rarely makes public appearances, even when asked for comment by the press.
Geography
Nordwalt is a mostly landlocked nation with one small stretch of coastline. Heavily forested over the bulk of the nation the country sweeps down from the southern mountains towards the coast, crossing the large central plains. Nearer the coast and the coastal cities the forest has been cleared for large expanses of farmland. The river Kalten and it's tributaries support most of Nordwalt's farmland and population, a string of small towns reaching up to its source in the mountains.
Tormarkt
Capital City of Nordwalt. Sited on the mouth of the river Kalten, this was the central hub of Nordwalt's economic development. Now sprawling along the coast it is also the largest port in the country, and home to the Nordwalten naval base. A city famed for it's beautiful gothic architecture near the historic city centre and the Duma buildings, and huge industrial district on the outskirts of the city. Permanently busy every hour of the day, it is the metaphorical centre of the country.
Other Large Cities
Rottburg
The largest industrial area in Nordwalt, this was originally a mining town in the foothills. When industrial progress was made it was the centre of manufacturing in the country. Slightly smaller than Nordwalt, many workers commute to the city from a ring of smaller towns nearby.
Bauernsitz
A major agricultural hub, Bauersitz lies in the heart of Nordwalten farming country.
Waldreinung
Gelseite
Economy
Tax Regime and Government Income
Practically all products except the more dangerous drugs and military grade hardware are publically available in Nordwalt, but some (such as guns, alcohol and other drugs) are taxed by the government. There is a small amount of income taxation - 10% - with an inital exemption of 10,000Pb and a break at 70,000Pb, thereafter additional income is taxed at only 5%. Other government income comes from a flat 5% corporation tax on company profits for all firms with limited liability (those with unlimited liability count company profits as part of the owners income and are taxed on it as such).
Government Expenditure
The government is libertarian in its expenditure, the overriding principle in Nordwalte Government is a hands off approach. The main government expenditure is in heavy subsidies to firms providing healthcare and education, with other expenditures as benefits for jobseekers (expiring after 6 months of unemployment) and incapacity (a very basic level of income). Other public works such as roadbuilding receive some spending. The courts, police and the army make up the rest of the budget along with necessary administration expenditure.
National Service
At the age of 18 every citizen in Nordwelt is expected to either be in an extended course of full time education (e.g. a University degree), to join the army (though not on front line duty) for a year, or to perform other work for government departments (examples being administrative work or highway maintainance) for a period of 18 months. On completion of their selected form of service they become citizens of Nordwalt and are entitled to vote in elections.
Major Corporations
RottMine Corporation
- CEO: Klaus Teuber
- Headquarters: Rottburg
A mining giant, they control practically the entire precious gems and metals industry in Nordwalt, and hold large stakes in oil production.
Tormarkt Times Media Group
- CEO: Peter Suber
- Headquarters: Tormarkt
One of the larger media comglomerates in Nordwalt, they publish the Tormarkt Times, the flagship daily newspaper along with other tabloids and special interest papers, and own appproximately half of the country's TV channels. Recent forays into radio have been less successful, however. Power is concentrated in the hands of Peter Suber who owns 85% of the company's stock.
Military
Nordwalten military capabilities are relatively small, historically due to the lack of perceived external threats. The military receives a modest amount of government spending, mostly to maintain current levels of readiness and to keep up with military developments elsewhere. Military service is looked on favourably in Nordwalt as traditionally the military demands exceptionally high standards from its recruits and to join a front line unit is perceived to be an honour. The alleged purpose of Nordwalten military is to protect the nation. As such, more attention is given to areas of the military which have more defensive potential. Nordwalt has never been involved in any major conflicts since the formation of the state.
The Army
The country maintains a small standing army mostly for ceremonial purposes, backed up by those performing National Service. The army are primarily used to help the police force when needed and to give aid to large logistical projects. There are three major sections of the army; the regular troops consisting of infantry, tank and artillery divisions; logistics and support troops such as engineering troops, reconnaisance units and transport; and the ceremonial guard - usually older officers who are used on most ceremonial occasions but not on active duty. All who pass through the Army in National Service are given basic training and potentially could be conscripted in times of war.
Not being a sea-going nation by tradition, Nordwalt has no real navy to speak of, with a pair of small aircraft carriers and a mix of ageing destroyers and frigates generally sitting in port when not on training exercises. Naval support vessels and submarines tend to spend more time out of dock on patrols and other exercises.
The Air Force
The Nordwalten Air Force (NAF) is slightly more prominent, and various air bases are scattered across the country, often attached to private sector airports. The NAF is most responsible for national defence. Hardware within the NAF consists mainly of interceptor fighters, ground support attack helicopters and defensive SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) and AMM (Anti-Missile Missile) installations. Incorporated within the NAF are the Strategic Missile Command, and Nordwalt's fledgling Space Agency. The NAF tends to attract far more finding than the other branches of the military especially on research spending and the SMC. The Space Agency is largely ignored and generally limits itself to small-scale scientific research; Nordwalt has yet to send anything permanently into orbit.
Arms Production
The country has a reasonably long record of high quality arms production, which are sold to other countries and the military by the three major privately-owned arms manufacturers. Most arms production and research is carried out at the Development Complexes, an industrial area outside Rottburg which is the nation's largest centre for corporate R&D both civilian and military.
