Politics of Qalustan

The government of the People's Republic of Qalustan operates under the first democratic system the country has ever experienced, having lived under the Vranith Empire for the last 1000 years. As of 2001, it has operated under the system described in this article.

Executive Branch

The President of Qalustan is elected on a seven-year term, along with the Vice President who is elected on the same ticket; the next, second election will take place in Winter 2008. The President personally selects his cabinet , apart from the First Minister (majority leader in the Senate), the Chief Warden (majority leader of the Council of Wardens) and the Speaker of the House of Wardens (elected by the Wardens). At present, President Zanwar Qal's cabinet is composed almost entirely of members of his own party, the Democratic Socialist Party of Qalustan. The two notable exceptions are Health Minister Qlegu Mant, who is not a member of any political party, and Jetra Gbhun, Speaker of the Council and House Minority Leader of the Libertarian Party of Qalustan.

Legislative Branch

The legistlative branch of the Qalustani government is composed of a bicameral legislature. The two chambers are the Senate and the Council of Wardens.

The Senate has 84 seats, 76 of which are occupied by senators elected every five years. The remaining eight are Senators-for-Life. Only two of the seats are occupied so far; plans are for them to be given to former Presidents on their retirement. The leader of the party which holds a majority in the Senate is given the title of First Minister, and has a place in the President’s cabinet. The Senate is presided over by one of the Senators-for-life or, in the event that all are absent, another senator chosen by the First Minister.

The Council of Wardens is composed of 350 seats. Their occupants are elected every four years. The majority leader in the Council is known as the Chief Warden, who, like the First Minister, has a place on the cabinet. The Council is presided over by the Speaker, who is elected each year from among the Council by its members. In the 2001-2005 term this was the Chief Warden, but he was unseated in the 2005 election by Jetra Gbhu’n (Yethra Geboon), a female Warden from the Libertarian Party.

In the first free elections, held in 2001, Qal was elected president with a 79% majority. The following year, his Democratic Socialist Party won 57 seats in the Senate and 210 in the Council of Wardens. This changed somewhat in the 2005 Council and 2006 Senate elections.

Political Parties of Qalustan

Democratic Socialist Party of Qalustan (Jebiž Fboné-Raqunst Qalustan-duor)

Senate Leader: First Minister Terad Ninqé

Council Leader: Chief Warden Huns Qoln

Platform: Far-left, anti-capitalist, pro-environmentalist

Colours: Red

Symbol: Ladybird

No. of Senators: 52

No. of Wardens: 198

Libertarian Party of Qalustan (Jebiž Unpasmorst Qalustan-duor)

Senate Leader: Senator Nanti Jatblun

Council Leader: Speaker Jetra Gbhun

Platform: Libertarian right, free markets, lower taxes

Colours: Yellow

Symbol: Wolf

No. of Senators: 17

No. of Wardens: 107

Qalustani New Conservative Party (Jebiž Qonsesmorst-Voé Qalustan-duor)

Senate Leader: Senator Artos Nbagu

Council Leader: Warden Iloét Žorgadun

Platform: Authoritarian right – lower tax, aggressive foreign policy

Colours: Blue

Symbol: Goose

No. of Senators: 3

No. of Wardens: 24

Imperialist Party of Vranith (Jebiž Emprasmorst Vranit-duor)

Senate Leader: Senator Ananit Relvast

Council Leader: Warden Ovis’ Tudagin

Platform: Reinstatement of nobles and, eventually, Imperial family

Colours: Purple

Symbol: Horse

No. of Senators: 1

No. of Wardens: 12