Veikaia

The Veikan Council Republic (Veikan: Coгxaш Pєшпuбka Вєиkaшa), also known as the Council Republic or more commonly Northern Veikaia is a self-described formed from the northern region of the former Veikan Kingdom during the last stages of the Veikan Civil War in 1979. The country is characterized for its planned economy and council-based government system. The country is a one-party state led by the Veikan Communist Party with its headquarters in the capital city of Oztov. North Veikaia borders South Veikaia to the South, Modrovia to the East and the Balearic Sea to the West. It has an estimated population of 21,886,672 people and a GDP of $557 billion, with its main exports being Anthracite, Iron, Steel and other metals and alloys, Metallic Goods, Natural Gas, Heavy Machinery, Consumer Electronics, Grain and Cattle among others.

The Council Republic was declared the 28th of November of 1979, near the end of the Veikan Civil War, after the city of Oztov was seized from remnants of the Veikan Provisional Government and right-wing militia forces. The siege of Oztov resulted in heavy infrastructure damage and the deaths of thousands civilians due to indiscriminate shelling and war crimes among other reasons. The war caused severe damage to the country's economy and infrastructure but reconstruction aid sent by Teutonenland and Albel helped rebuild the country from the ground up during what Veikan historians have called the "Reconstruction Period".

Since its foundation, the Council Republic has described itself as a democratic socialist state, holding elections for positions within the council hierarchy every 4 years and having candidates from within the VCP only. Currently no other parties are allowed to participate in the elections beyond the VCP and factions within it. The state follows Ignatovism, a form of Communism characterized by a predominantly council-based semi-democratic system, a market socialist economic policy, worker self-management of the means of production and a high level of government decentralization.

Geography
Geographically Veikaia is mostly composed of steppes and grasslands with a moderate amount of forests and highlands on the northern area of the state. Several rivers cross the Northern Veikan plains, but the river Vei is the major one, going through the capital city of Oztov.

Climate
The climate of Northern Veikaia changes little when compared to its southern neighbor; mostly continental, with temperatures reaching as low as -5°C on the harshest winters and reaching up to 18°C or 20°C on summer. Winter is generally mild with average humidity and precipitations while summer is generally cool and moist with annual rainfall of approximately 500 to 700 mm. Climatological natural disasters are rare, with only mild flooding being the only danger that could be experienced in Northern Veikaia. Snow is incredibly common during winter, blanketing the country in a layer of snow every year, with the amount of snowfall experienced depending on the region and ranging from relatively thin layers of sleet to higher concentrations of snow that can make transportation difficult.

Politics
The Council Republic is, as it names implied, a Council Socialist State. It is divided in three major branches: The Legislative represented by the Congress of Councils, the government represented by the Table of Commissars and the Judiciary Council.

Veikan Communist Party
The Veikan Communist Party (Shortened to VCP) is the only legal party in the Council Republic. The party is led by a Party Committee elected at a Party Congress every 5 years. The objective of the Party Committee is to organize the Communist Party, ensure ideological adherence to the basic tenants of Communism, ensure control over the state mechanism and furthering the goals of Internationalism as political representatives of the Republic.

Only members of the VCP can legally hold government positions within the Council Republic, and several factions representing different Communist currents have formed within the VCP, leading to internal struggles between factions in each Party Congress.

Government
As a Council Republic, the Veikan Government is composed of a hierarchy of decentralized assemblies going from the lower local levels to higher supreme ones. The country is divided in local, city, regional and national councils each having a level of autonomy and control on their assigned working areas. Members of the party selected by their local communities are elected in a 5 year basis for positions in their assigned local council, members of said local council can be elected by their city council for positions within it and so on. Still, even when decentralized, the national councils old the power to dissolve minor assemblies, call for Party Congresses, override orders by lesser councils and other rights as to maintain what the North Veikan Constitution calls "Ideological Unity".

Factionalism is common and tolerated to an extent within both the party and government; several factions within the Communist Party work almost as parties of their own within it. The major Factions of North Veikaia are the Ignatovists, Market Communists, Marxist-Leninists and Democratic Socialists, with the most popular among them being the Ignatovists, holding an almost permanent majority since 1979, and the least popular the Democratic Socialists. During election times, these factions within the party are known to campaign in a way similar to that of western democratic parties commonly seen in states members of the League of Free Nations.

North Veikaia is governed by a Constitution which establish standards for governance and the way the Council Republic must function. The Constitution also lists the rights and obligations of all North Veikan citizens. The constitution is one of the few in the world to stress the citizens' rights to bear arms and organize themselves in protection of the Council Republic against both foreign and internal threats, even if this right has its limitations.

Legislative Power is held by the unicameral Congress of Councils, one of the major national councils. Members of the Congress of Councils are elected by each Provincial Council every 5 years like every other council in the nation. They are tasked with the passing of laws and assignment of members to the Table of Commissars, the executive branch of the state. The Congress of Councils also holds major power over the other councils under it and the Table of Commissars, being able to dissolve them by passing a motion of no confidence. Through all Veikan history a motion of no confidence has never been passed, but has been threatened several times. A Chairman of the Congress of Councils is also elected to function as the representative of the Congress and Head of Government

Executive power is held by the Table of Commissars and its chairman, elected by the Congress of Councils also every 5 years. Each member of the Table of Commissars is tasked with managing an specific commissariat. Currently, 5 commissariats exist: Aside from the Commissars, a Chairman of the Table of Commissars is also selected. The Chairman is generally, but not always, also the Chairman of the Communist Party. The Chairman of the Table of Commissars works as the Head of State of North Veikaia.
 * Commissariat of Defense
 * Commissariat of State Security
 * Commissariat of Internal Affairs
 * Commissariat of Foreign Affairs
 * Commissariat of Agriculture and Industry (Also known as the Commissariat of Economic Affairs)

Finally, Judiciary power is held exclusively by the Communist Party and its Party Commissars, who work in a similar manner to judges in western democracy but answer directly to the Party Head and not the head of state.

Demographics
North Veikaia has an estimated population of 21,886,672 people, with a large portion of the population living in Oztov and surrounding areas. Most of the population is ethnically Veikan, but several minorities are present thanks to the country's open immigration policy.

Religion
Prior to the emergence of Alitheian Christianity, Veikan tribes followed Veikan Paganism, a dualistic pagan religion that was largely abandoned with the unification and mass conversion of the country to Christianity after the ascension of Veislad I to the throne.

The predominant religion in North Veikaia is Alitheian Christianity, with over 76% of the population belonging to the religion but a number close to 53% actually observe it. Prominent religious minorities in the country include Jews, Muslims, Marian Church of Agrana y Griegro and a growing irreligious minority. The Council Republic has a policy of limited religious tolerance towards Alitheians but cases of religious intolerance towards Jewish and Muslim communities by the government have been denounced by international human rights organizations.

Military
The Workers' Revolutionary Army, also know as the WRA or North Veikan Armed Forces in most of Anterra function as the armed forces of the Council Republic. The VWAF consists of the Workers' Revolutionary Ground Force, Workers' Revolutionary Air Force and the Workers' Revolutionary Navy. The Armed Forces answer directly to the Commissariat of Defense and the Chairman of the Table of Commissars the latter functioning as the Commander-in-chief.

While the WRA maintains a large reserve and active force, the country has significantly demobilized and downsized its army since the end of the Veikan Civil War, primarily thanks to a detente campaign spearheaded by the South and North Veikan government through the 1980s and 1990s. Still a number of North Veikan forces remain stationed in the North-South border, justifying the presence as "guaranteeing the sovereignty of the Council Republic from hostile international agents.".

North Veikaia, not unlike its southern neighbor, possesses a strong industrial base which produces most of the country's military equipment, even then many imports dating as far back as the 1930s through 1940s are still in active use by all branches, albeit heavily modified in the case of active divisions. The Veikan Defense industry is able to produce individual and crew served weaponry, artillery, armored vehicles and tanks among others, but suffers from an underdeveloped air and naval industry relying mostly on foreign imports.

The Veikan Communist party exerts a level of control of the Armed Forces through several mechanisms; Only party members can reach higher officer positions within the Armed Forces and Party Commissars have been directly integrated into the armed forces to exercise party discipline on dissenting officers. Conscripted and Professional soldiers are screened disloyalty before being allowed to serve and must also go through lectures on Marxism. These aggressive policies have led to a large number of officers loyal to the Party and its ideology, even if most enlisted personnel are not active members of the VCP. Still, factionalism within the Communist party has also caused friction within the armed forces and its officers.

Economy
The country's main exports are Coal and Anthracite, Iron, Steel and other metals and alloys, Metallic Goods, Natural Gas, Heavy Machinery, Consumer Electronics, Grain and Cattle among others.