Konigsberg is a unitary presidential-parliamentary republic, with a codified Constitution (see here for the document). The Constitution serves as the supreme text of the republic. It was established on July 15, 1988, and officially ratified on November 26, replacing the provisional government formed after the overthrow of the Konigsbergesk People's Republic. The primary author is Leonardo Cobalt, who has served as the first President since 1989. The capital is Konigsberg, and the state is officially secular, promoting laicite. Like most democracies, it has three branches of government; the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.
The President serves as the head of the executive branch, as well as the head of state and government. He is elected quadrannually via a two-round system; if 50% of the vote is not achieved in the first round, a second round runoff is held between the top two candidates. The President is not officially subject to term limits, though party fatigue usually prevents the incumbent party from holding more than three terms in a row. A person may not be President until he is 25 years old; usually, the President is a member of Parliament or Cabinet elevated to the role. The President signs or vetoes legislation; a veto may be overridden by a 2/3 majority. As the commander-in-chief, he exercises supreme responsibility and orders to the armed forces, and declares war on nations with the advice and consent of Parliament. He may also issue decrees that are applicable solely to the executive branch; an independent and non-partisan civil service is tasked with implementing them and all other laws.
He is also charged with appointing the Cabinet; most notably, the Deputy President, who is the head of the Cabinet and ascends to the Presidency in the event of his death or incapacitation. Both the President and the Cabinet are accountable to Parliament; they can be removed through a no-confidence vote and impeachment. They may also be censured, which is defined as a "formal rebuke of their conduct". Cabinet is under collective responsibility, meaning that they are expected to publicly support all governmental decisions, and support the government in confidence motions, with some exceptions.
The National Parliament, usually referred to shorthand as Parliament, is the unicameral legislative branch. It is primarily a Westminister system, aside from the head of state not being ceremonial. Parliament is comprised of 220 seats, with 111 being an absolute majority. They are elected every four years, utilising party-list proportional representation. The seats are split into 15 multi-member constituencies, plus one overseas district and a special administrative district for Danzig, allocated proportional to population. Voting in both the presidential and parliamentary elections is mandatory, though it is optional in referenda, local and European elections. A 5% national threshold is needed to get seats. A party winning 10 or more seats entitles it to official party status; granting it the right to interpellation and formation of parliamentary caucuses. A caucus is a group of Ms with similar goals or interests; they do not strictly need to be of one party.
It hosts itself in Konigsberg Castle, and regularly meets every weekday. Each Wednesday, an interpellation session occurs, where Members of Parliament query the President and the members of his Cabinet on contemporary matters. Its primary function, however, is to introduce and pass legislation. Most legislation needs a simple majority of those in attendance to pass; constitutional amendments require 2/3. The executive and legislative elections being in tandem with eachother allows for the President to be a member of the legislature at the same time. It is theoretically possible that a President wins the election but loses his seat, though he can still govern as an extraparliamentary. The head of Parliament is the Marshal; he is non-partisan, serving as the presiding officer within the chamber and certifier of elections. He is re-nominated at the start of each parliamentary session. Due to his relatively uncontroversial nature, it is rare for the Marshal to fail to be re-nominated.
The nature of Konigsberg's electoral system allows for multiple parties to compete, in contrast with many other Westminster democracies such as Canada and the United Kingdom, though there are still two main parties that consolidate around the left and right respectively. It is uncommon for a party to achieve an absolute majority, and the procedure for coalition governments is expressly delineated in the Constitution. Similar to the Nordic countries, the parties have a designated letter for ballot lines, but also their own symbol that appears on the ballot and is used for campaigning purposes.
1. The Labour Party (A; Arbeiterparti) is the big tent center-left party. It is primarily social-democratic, though also possesses democratic socialist and Third Way centrist factions. It has formed a government five times, with its longest stint of governance being from 1989 to the present. The party is led by Leonardo Cobalt, the incumbent President since 1989. It was established in 1931 as a sister party to the British Labour Party; while they are both in the Socialist International and converge on core issues, they have drifted somewhat to accommodate respective niches and cultural interests. Fiscally, the party favours Keynesianism and moderate free trade, with nationalisation of key industries (one of its signature achievements is the National Health Insurance service, a universal public health insurance system), whereas socially, they are progressive, endorsing the legalisation of gay marriage, pro-choice, and drug liberalisation. The party endorses pro-Europeanism and the idea of a central currency. In terms of foreign policy, it is internationalist and Atlanticist. Their official symbol is a rose, and their colour is vermillion.
Labour's voters consist of the working class, trade unionists, and the intellectual elite. It prefers to work with the Liberal Party due to their social liberalism. Despite being closer ideologically, they do not want to work with the Socialist Party due to negative connotations of socialism and communism post-Cold War. Similarly, they would rather not work with the National Party, though can acquiesce in times of national emergency or if other coalitions are infeasible.
European Parliament seats (most recent election 12 June 1994): 13/25. Nationally affiliated with PES.
Presidential election results (most recent election 14 November 1994): 67.43%, second round.
Parliamentary election results (most recent election 14 November 1994): 89/220. In coalition with the Liberals as the senior partner.
2. The National Party (N; Nationalparti), shorthand referred to as the Nationals (De Nationalar), is the big tent right-wing party. It was established in 1901, and reformed in 1987 upon the resumption of multi-party democracy. It has formed a government seven times, with its longest stint of governance being from 1919-1931, and has never finished below second since its founding. The party is a loose coalition of various conservative factions, none of which prevail over eachother. This unusual tapestry is a result of several mergers and absorptions during the early post-communist years (1987-1991). The most prominent of these factions are the paternalist conservatives, the national conservatives, and the progressive-conservatives. Due to this, the party is susceptible to splits; most notably the Center Party, which is discussed below. Fiscally, it is laissez-faire and favours free trade, whereas socially, it is moderately conservative; pro-life with exceptions, opposed to drug liberalisation. It is pro-European, though opposes the idea of a central currency. The Nationals are Atlanticist on foreign policy, though are more hawkish than the Labour Party. Their official symbol is a bull, and their colour is black.
The National Party's voters consist of businesses, and rural voters who are not farmers. It prefers to work with the Liberal Party due to their economic views. They would rather not work with the Labour Party, as they share little in common aside from foreign policy and are the main adversaries of eachother, and are entirely incompatible with the Socialist Party.
European Parliament seats: 7/25. Nationally affiliated with UfE.
Presidential election results: 32.57%, second round.
Parliamentary election results: 65/220. In opposition.
3. The Liberals (L; De Liberalar) are the libertarian party. It was established in 1866, and reformed in 1987 upon the resumption of multi-party politics. They have never formed a government, but usually participate in government coalitions as a junior partner, and secure either third or fourth place. The party is primarily classical liberal, though has noticeable left and right-libertarian factions. Fiscally, it is laissez-faire and favours free trade; however, it pushes for lower government spending and a balanced budget much more than the National Party does. It is socially liberal, rallying against government interference. They are isolationist in foreign policy, and somewhat Eurosceptic. Their official symbol is a golden eagle, and their colour is buff.
The Liberal Party's voters consist of the middle class, and teachers. They serve as the kingmaker in coalitions, since they are relatively flexible and can work with both main parties without too much difficulty or fear of electoral punishment. It is slightly more inclined to the National Party, since they prioritise economic issues more than social issues, but it is not hostile to other parties. It does not wish to work with the Socialist Party, as they share very little in common.
European Parliament seats: 3/25. Nationally affiliated with LDR.
Presidential election results: 7.57%, first round.
Parliamentary election results: 30/220. In coalition with Labour as the junior partner.
4. The Center Party (C; Centerparti) is the agrarian party. The party was founded in 1912, as a split from the National Party, and reformed in 1987 upon the resumption of multi-party politics. The Center Party enjoyed its best period of success in the mid 1930s, where it achieved first place and formed a majority government with the Nationals from 1933-1938, though has declined since. It is a member of the Nordic agrarian parties, and shares much in common with them. Fiscally, it is laissez-faire, but differs from its right-wing contemporaries in that it favours protectionism to defend farmers. Socially, it is centrist, favouring direct democracy and decentralisation, and sceptical of immigration. However, they endorse environmental protections. Their official symbol is a clover, and their colour is celadon.
The Center Party was historically named the Farmers' Party, and thus can be expected to easily win their vote. However, due to the decline of farming populations, it has moved to becoming a catch-all center party to win over suburban voters and Christian democrats. It prefers to coalition with the Labour Party, as their advocacy for the working class aligns with historical agrarianism, and they agree on most social issues, but would not be repulsed to coalition with the National Party. They do not wish to work with the Socialist Party.
European Parliament seats: 1/25. Nationally affiliated with LDR.
Presidential election results: 5.45%, first round.
Parliamentary election results: 21/220. In coalition with Labour as confidence and supply.