Catholic Republic of Pontunia

Economy of Pontunia
Economy of Pontunia
Currency	Dukaten (Đ)
Fixed exchange rates	10 Đ= 0.69 Troy Ounces Silver
Fiscal year	March–February
Statistics
GDP	71 Đ ($142)
Inflation	2.49 %
Main industries	Tourism, Fishing, Oil (offshore, not controlled)
External
Exports	None
Imports	Electricity, most commodities
Public finances
Public debt	25 Đ ($50)
Credit rating	BBB+
Foreign reserves	125 Đ ($250)
	All values, unless otherwise stated, are in USD

Catholic Republic of Ponchartrain-Maurepas
*République Catholique de Ponchartrain-Maurepas* (French)
*Res Public Catholic Puntuniaska-Maerpos* (Pontunian)
Catholic Republic of Ponchartrain-Maurepas République Catholique de Ponchartrain-Maurepas (French) ; Res Public Catholic Puntuniaska-Maerpos (Pontunian)
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: "Independence, Transcendence, Repentance" "Let the Good Times Roll" (tourism)
	Anthem: "Do You Hear the People Sing?"
Capital	New Rouen
Official languages	English, French, Pontunian
Recognised regional languages	Louisiana Creole
Ethnic groups	Americans, African Americans, Cajuns
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Demonym(s)	Pontunian
Government	Unitary Presidential Republic under a Provisional Government
• President	Andrew Perdomo
• Chief Minister	vacant
Legislature	Parliament of Pontunia
• Upper house	Senate of Peers
• Lower house	National Assembly
Establishment
• Independence of Pontunia	12 January 2020
Population
• 2023 estimate	20 residents, ~60 total citizens
HDI	0.893; very high
Currency	Pontunian dukaten ; Excelsioran-Libertasian Mark (PTD)
Time zone	UTC-6 (LST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (LDT)
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy, BC and AD
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
Internet TLD	.po (proposed)

Pontunia, officially the Catholic Republic of Ponchartrain-Maurepas, is an independent sovereign state, commonly known as a micronation by external observers. Located primarily in Metairie, Louisiana, with other enclaves and semi-enclaves in Acadiana, The Florida Parishes and the Greater New Orleans Area, Pontunia consists of 20 citizens residing within its main area, and numerous online citizens.

Pontunia was established as a Duchy on 12 January 2020. After 3 years as a monarchy, the Pontunian Republican Revolution established a provisional republican government led by the Former Monarch, Andrew Perdomo, after Charles I of Ela'r'oech assumed the Pontunian throne.

Etymology

Pontchartrain and Maurepas are the names of two lakes situated to the north of Pontunia, which upon its creation in January 2020 was founded with the name "Pontchartrain-Maurepas". The shorter name "Pontunia" was soon derived from this as a nickname. Etymologies retrospectively assigned to Pontunia alone include the Greek primordial deity of the sea Pontus, or the Latin pōns ("bridge") in reference to the nearby Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

History

On 12 January 2020, Andrew Perdomo, inspired after learning about the micronations of Molossia and Sealand, signed a Declaration of Independence to “preserve the culture and beauty of Southern Louisiana”, and became Duke of Pontchartrain-Maurepas, with his father Eric Perdomo, Lord of the Floridian March, as his regent. However, the Regency was abolished shortly afterwards on the 16th after a committee of vassals debated Andrew I’s minority, and decided that Andrew was not incapable of ruling and therefore did not require a regency. Eric was named heir apparent.

The Duchy had been founded with vague territorial claims, ill-defined other than a plan for an optimum future extent. On 2 September, the actual territorial extent of the Duchy was defined, with the name of the Ducal Domain. Shortly after this, a communist insurrection broke out against the ducal government, but was successfully quashed on 7 October.

On 13 February Pontunia was partitioned between an independent micronation and New Pontunia.

On 5 August 2021, the Duchy became a Kingdom.

On 26 February 2023, Madgett v. Perdomo was filed and decided in favor of Charles Madgett, making him the disputed new King of Pontunia. This led to Pontunian residents declaring a Catholic Republic.

Government and politics

Pontunia is currently under the control of the Catholic Provisional Government. The state religion is Catholicism, though the constitution of Pontunia grants individuals freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice and the freedom to change religion.

Administration

Pontunia has a bicameral legislature, called the Parliament of Pontunia, comprised of the National Assembly, the lower house, and the Senate of Peers, the upper house led by Pontunian Nobility. Elections occur on the first of January, April, July, and October through a single transferable voting system, as defined in the Constitution.

Political parties

Logo		Name		Ideology	Position	Leader
Parties represented on a national level
		Coalition of National Unity	KNU	Distributism, Christian Democracy	Center-Right	Andrew Perdomo
Parties without representation
	N/A	Jacobin Pontunia	JBN	Democratic Socialism, Republicanism	Left-Wing	vacant
	N/A	Stewards of the World	SotW	Enviromentalism	N/A	vacant
	N/A	Social Monarchist Party	SMP	Social Democracy, Monarchism	Center-Left	vacant

Foreign Relations and Defense

The diplomatic relations of Pontchartrain-Maurepas are implemented by the President. The power to grant official diplomatic recognition of sovereignty lies primarily with the President. The United States of America claims ownership of all land comprising Pontchartrain-Maurepas.

Nations under Pontunian Vassalage

Bilateral Contact

Unilateral Recognition

Unrecognized or Condemned Nations and Organizations

Venezuela, Iran, the PRC, Cuba and the DPRK, for being “oppressive dictatorships against the world.”
Palestine and Israel for "continuation of religious hostilities and false claims to the Holy Land."
Kosovo for being "an attempt by NATO to violate the sovereignty of Serbia."

Law and order

The Pontunian police was formed on 19 January 2020 in response to instances of cyber-crime. It is predominantly an organization to keep tabs on civilians. Prior to becoming a Crown Dependency, Pontunia claimed the right to administer the death penalty with royal approval. The Kingdom nominally threatens castration as an equivalent to capital punishment.

The Pontunian military is ultimately responsible for the defence of the Duchy, and has significant political influence. The Army is not a standing army, but called upon in times of need. It is divided into two divisions: Division I “Bayou Battlers” and Division II “Ragin Cajuns”. The Navy is comprised of 10 civilian speedboats, and a rowboat. All weapons are nerf guns and wooden batons. The Army got involved with a rebel cell in Mandeville.

Geography, territory and climate

Pontunia is mostly flat and built on drained swamp: the city of New Orleans is below sea level. The climate is subtropical and warm most of the year.

Economy

The Dukaten is on a Silver Standard, alongside considering Oreo packages legal tender.

Culture and media

The King is fluent in English, Castilian Spanish and Latin, plays piano and is involved in Shōrin-ryū Karate. Many Hollywood films are shot near Pontunia. Pontunia has US television and cable, and no restrictions on censorship are in place.

The citizens of Pontunia are avid consumers and capitalist, with the belief of “laissez le bon temps rouler“ (French for “let the good times roll“) predominant. Life is somewhat indulgent, but moderation still exists.

Typical music of the area includes jazz and zydeco. The National Dance is called “bōenska”, or Quarterstaff Dance. It also functions as a martial art of sorts, and is taught to the army, as well as privately.

Classification of Pontunia

Bricks and Mortar, Small, Statehood — 5th World (Boodlesmythe-Tallini)
3.6 (Dresner's)
1.9 (Economic Potential Index)
3.46 (Democracy Index)
4 (Freayth's)
3.2 (Linden's)

References

↑ "Laissez les bons temps rouler" in Cajun French.