Concordian Republic
 | This article refers to a micronation or element of micronationalism which is defunct and no longer exists. You can help make the article reflect that or ask on the talk page for further information. |
Concordian Republic | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Fortior Simul English: Stronger together | |
| Anthem: Our Land, Concordia | |
 Concordian territories | |
| Capital and Federal District | New Concordia |
| Official languages | English, Noongar, Toki Pona |
| Demonym(s) | Concordian |
| Government | Presidential Republic |
• Concordian President | Callum Russell |
| Legislature | Concordian National Cabinet |
| Independence from Australia | |
• Declaration of Independence | 30 June 2021 |
• Formation of the Second Republic | 23 August 2022 |
• Dissolved | 23 September 2022 |
| Area | |
• Total area | 7.557 km2 (2.918 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 14 |
• March 2022 census | 12 |
• Density | 1.85/km2 (4.8/sq mi) |
| Currency | Australian dollar Concordian dollar |
| Time zone | UTC+8:30 (CST) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +61 (de facto) |
The Concordian Republic, often referred to as Concordia, was a self-proclaimed sovereign nation, often known as a micronation. Independence was declared on 30 June, 2021. The nation was entirely located in the south-west of Australia, completely land-locked by Western Australia. The country was composed of two states, two federal territories and a district. The nation’s capital of Kersika was located in the greater Naverston District.
From 23 August to 23 September 2022, the Concordian Republic was operating under the Second Republic, meaning that its government was under the control of the President of the Concordian Republic, Callum Russell from 23 August to 23 September 2022. The Concordian Republic’s legislature was the Council of Representatives, lead by Premier Ozren Ceklic.
The Republic entered into mutual recognition with two nations, one of which the Concordian Republic was a strong ally of.
Etymology
The Concordian Republic took its name from the Latin goddess of Concordia, which is generally interpreted as meaning harmony. The Concordian Republic was originally planned to be named the ‘Democratic Republic of Concordia’ [1], however was abandoned on an unknown date for reasons unspecified. Many of the Concordian Republic’s subdivisions were named after historic names for the same areas, typically from other Callum Russell-associated micronations. Some examples include Naverston District, Naverston being Flinders’ capital, and the state of Ithyca from the former nation of the same name. It was also a naming convention to take a name from relevant subjects, such as the Aeonian area of Ibisca from the widespread ibis bird, and the Aeonian city of Armisak from its Concordian army base.
The demonym for an object from the Concordian Republic was Concordian. The adjectival was also Concordian.
History
Formation
The Concordian Republic declared itself independent from Australia on 30 June 2021. Whilst its borders were mapped in the following days, there followed a period of inactivity. However, in early August, Governor of the Concordian Republic, Callum Russell, retook interest in the project, and began issuing executive orders. On 6 August, he enacted the orders and started the First Reformation Age. Following this, a new citizen was recruited, and Cabinet meetings were held with McKenzie being granted the honorary title of Governor of Aeonia. Meetings of the two occurred peacefully throughout the next few weeks. In this time, a new state was proposed for formation, but overturned, and limits were placed on the Federal Guard. However, altercations between the citizen and the Federal Guard on 25 and 26 August led to The Guardsman's War.
The three day civil war ended with the District Treaty, and began the Second Reformation Age. On 5 September, new territories were annexed from Australia, less than a kilometre away from Aeonia. These territories, first Carrolinux, were later ceded to Aeonia as the right to relocate borders was enacted. New territories near Chittering were taken for Carrolinux [2]. On 6 September, the nation entered the Second Phase.
Second Phase
Following the entry into the second phase, the Governorship was terminated and replaced by the Presidency and Mayorship. Governorship of Aeonia and Carrolinux were awarded to Governor McKenzie and Governor Carl respectively. On 9 September, a press conference was held by the President in which he announced the formation of a Cabinet. He would become Minister for External Affairs, Governor Carl the Minister for Communities and Development, and Governor McKenzie the Minister for the Environment. 'Sectors' were also formed [3], providing a solid way for states to determine land.
The Aeonian War
On 3 December 2021, a small war erupted. The Aeonian Governor declared her state to be an independent nation at exactly 5:55 pm. The first Republic of Aeonia did not last long, being retaken by the President just two minutes later. At 5:58, however, Governor McKenzie once again formed the Republic of Aeonia. Attempted negotiations failed again and again, and at 6:03 McKenzie advanced into the Concordian heartland. She took a strip of grass from the Federal District, including a trampoline, declaring it to be the new capital of her Republic of Tramp. Further negotiations fell apart, and thus at 6:06 pm, President Russell reclaimed Tramp's capital, before once again claiming the Aeonian territories. Eager to prevent a third secession, Russell drafted and signed the Treaty of Aeonia [4], which the defeated McKenzie reluctantly signed two days later.
Early 2022 in the Concordian Republic
It took nearly a month before the next major event [5], a redrawing of Western Aeonia's boundaries and the creation of the Lower Banks Federal District on January 17, 2022. This extended Concordian territory by nearly two times up the Canning River.
February 14 marked a turning point in terms of COVID-19. The nation had never experienced the potential of COVID-19 cases, however the numbers within Western Australia rose to 62 that day, provoking a slew of restrictions [6]. These included a sign-in system, indoor mask-wearing, a vaccination certificate and more.
Some of these restrictions would be lifted 25 days later [7], namely the vaccination certificate and the sign-in system. The day before, March 10, had seen a change in the flag of the Concordian Republic, to one reflected on March 11 on all Concordian services and websites.
Democratic Government
On the March 11, the first political party in the history of the Concordian Republic was founded, the Social Democratic Party (SDPCR). This came two days after the formal foundation of the National Cabinet of the Concordian Republic, an organisation that became the formal legislative body days later. On March 14, the official chat opened in Cisco Webex.
On March 15, the President's Office announced an election was coming [8] [9]. He appointed the nation's eleventh citizen, known as James, to Chair of the Concordian Electoral Governance. On March 17, the creation of a new party named the New Nationals was made apparent, endorsing a single candidate in the upcoming election.
March 18 brought the resignation of the Governor of Carrolinux, who then retracted her lands [10]. Three days later, CMBC News completed an analysis of the New Nationals' chances in the election [11], revealing they would likely win one seat and garner 28-38% of the overall vote. Also noted on the same day was the failure of the National Cabinet to sit on the March 20, which raised some questions amongst the Concordian population. Eventually, it was revealed a communication breakdown led to a failure to begin the conference call.
On March 27, however, the National Cabinet sat just days before the start of voting [12]. This sitting saw the ratification of the Basic Law of the Concordian Republic [13], as well as the passage of the first three laws. These were the Aeonian Expansion Act [14], the National Parks Act [15], and the Public Communications Act. Most notable was the Aeonian Expansion Act 2022, which enabled the expansion of Aeonia to 2,231,500 square metres. This also created a New Aeonia Federal District as a combination of the Lower Banks Federal District and Western Aeonia.
First Election and Referendum
The election began as planned on March 31. Immediately, Ozren Ceklic won his seat of Austeria. In the following days, Callum Russell was reelected as Mayor of the Federal Districts. There was much delay in the voting process until April 15, when a flurry of voting signified the end of the election. As expected, Callum Russell won the Presidency, leaving H Norman, the only New National candidate, Vice Presidency. McKenzie Arra also won Aeonia, beating H Norman by one vote. Following this, however, the Concordian Republic experienced a hiatus, ending on May 10. The President announced a the nation's first referendum that day. It was to pose two questions: 1) Should the Concordian Republic become a Kingdom under Callum Russell?, and 2) Should elections be held every six months rather than every year? This has been dubbed the 'Crown Referendum'. The act enabling the Crown Referendum was passed in June 2022, however was canceled with Russell's resignation.
Period of Inactivity
President Callum Russell ceased activity in the Concordian Republic on 18 June, 2022. This was reportedly due to Russell's disillusionment with the Concordian political system, more specifically the power of parties in the political systems. On that same day, he founded the new nation of Flinders, a constitutional monarchy. Russell continued to be technically President through the nation's Independence Day on 30 June, 2022. On 1 July, Russell released a statement through CMBC News stating he would formally resign as President. Contrary to constitutionality, he chose to make trusted Social Democrat Ozren Ceklic the new President, not his Vice President.
Ceklican Era
Following Ceklic's taking to the Presidency, the Concordian Republic fell into a state of inactivity. The inexperienced President was not able to run the country as Russell had previously, resulting in complete inactivity. No news updates had been provided since 1 July, when Russell made his announcement of retirement. The nation continued to experience no form of change for more than a month. On August 7, the inactivity only deepened to near-dissolution, as Ceklic effectively gave up the Presidency to join Russell in the new state of Ithyca. This ghost state, still boasting 14 citizens, continued without a leader for another two weeks. 23 August, 2022, however, marked another important date in the Republic.
The Second Republic
On 23 August, 2022, the ghost state was lifted out of inactivity by Callum Russell, who began work on the second Concordian state. On 24 August, he issued a survey asking for citizens' feedback on the country's reformation. This survey received very positive support, and as such, the new iteration of the state was put into action on 26 August. The same day, the Council of Representatives was formally created, with Premier Ozren Ceklic leading the legislature. In the following days, the Concordian Republic saw a boom in activity, such as the awarding of Concordian Service Medals. However, Russell eventually found what he believed to be irreparable issues in the Concordian Republic fundamentally, and began planning the Alsann Republic. The Concordian Republic fell into inactivity as Russell expanded on Alsann, until its dissolution on 23 September 2022.
Government and military
The Concordian Republic was a semi-presidential democratic system. The President of the Concordian Republic, Callum Russell, was the Head of Cabinet. Alongside his roles as President, and Mayor of the Federal Districts, he was also the Minister for External Affairs, and Minister for Communities. One co-member of the cabinet was Governor of Aeonia, McKenzie Arra. She was Minister for the Environment. Ozren, Governor of Austeria, was granted the role of Minister for Development following the April election. In a controversial move, the Vice President was also granted a Ministry, despite being from the Opposition. He was given the title Minister for the Armed Forces due to experience in the area.
The Basic Law was the Concordian equivalent of a constitution.
Law Enforcement and Military
The Concordian Republic did not have a functioning judiciary system, however had a single body in defence of the nation. This body was the Federal Guard, a three-strong force who collaborated in patrolling the borders of the New Concordian Federal District each day, and the Aeonian borders each week. They possessed the power to place citizens under house arrest for up to a day.
They were armed with a total of at least fourteen foam blasters. The elite force were known well for the faux knives they produced. Using pocket-knives, they carved daggers out of other branches. The Federal Guard served as the official military and as the only police force in the nation. It was one of their members who sparked the aforementioned Guardsman's War.
Foreign Relations
The Concordian Republic mutually recognised two nations, Saspearian and the bordering Melodia. The Concordian Republic was also the home of the Southern Confederation, a union of Oceanian nations. The Southern Confederation ranked the Concordian Republic and small neighbouring nation Melodia.
Election
On March 15, 2022, the Concordian Government announced it would be holding an election on April 2 and 3. In the lead up to the election, the Governor of Carrolinux resigned, and the position of Vice President was put into the National Cabinet. CMBC News completed an analysis of the chances of the New National Party in the upcoming election, revealing the New Nationals were only expected to receive one of the four National Cabinet seats.
Following a drawn out process, the election ended on April 15. Of the Social Democrats, Ozren Ceklic and Callum Russell retained their seats, and McKenzie Arra won the seat of Aeonia. New Nationals candidate H Norman won only the Vice Presidency.
Geography
The geography of the Concordian Republic was wide-ranging. From the gullies and thick bushland of Aeonia State, to the gentle slopes and rivers of New Aeonia, the Concordian Republic was a geographically diverse area. It had a total land area of 7,557,300 square metres, or approximately three and a half times larger than Monaco.
Aeonia
Aeonia was by far the Concordian Republic's second-largest region. The 2,231,500 square metre Eastern Aeonia resided on the Darling Scarp, and was entirely forested. A seasonal stream ran from the south-east of the state to the south-western border, however appears only after heavy rains. The region is populated mostly by Marri and Jarrah trees and scrub. The area is first noted in the 1830s, when the Governor of the Swan River colony found the region is rich in slate, of which there are still major deposits that make up the largest export of the state. The area is also panned for gold within that time, without success. A large water channel also runs through the west of the state, north-south.
At 103,500 square metres, Ibisca resides within the Swan River plain. The Canning River runs through the centre of the area, wide and deep enough for rafts to travel on. The river is fringed by trees, which is then in turn bordered by fields on both sides. In the west of the region, the Ibis Brook runs into the Canning River. There are multiple tracks that run through Ibisa, notably District Link parallel to the river and Carls Road in the east. Much of the higher and lower areas are also populated by high grasses and riverine plants. This combination of low-lying areas, trees, water and high plants results in a wide variety of animals calling the area home. Both snakes and lizards have been reported in the area, and there have been sightings of at least three different species of duck, ibises, parrots and ravens or crows.
Ithyca
The 1,517,100 square metre state of Ithyca is located west of Aeonia. Its capital, Austeria, consists entirely of a house, with slightly sandy soil. A nearby grasslands forms Naverkas, a 171,000 square metre open plain. Ithyca also consists of a large amount of territory near Augusta, in southwestern Australia. Totalling 1,345,500 square metres, it is dominated by large stretches of sand, however around a third consists of heavily forested bushland.
The 1500 square metre Naverston District sits on the Darling Scarp, however the slope is relatively shallow. The Federal District's Gardens, among other things, contains trees that produce small plums throughout early spring (pictured). These plums were later named the Concordian Miniature Plum. The national capital, Kersika, is located within an enclosed area inside Naverston.
Territories
The Concordian Republic has two Federal Territories under its control. These two are the Macleay Federal Territories and the Territory of Shetvik & St Alouarn. A Federal Territory is subject to federal regulations in a different way to states.
Macleay Federal Territories
The Macleay Federal Territories are an island group near Derby, Western Australia. It is the largest subdivision of the Concordian Republic. The islands are completely uninhabited to all knowledge. The largest, Macleay Island, totals 3,292,500 square metres, and the total area of the territory is 3,497,250 square metres. Most islands are rocky, with some larger have minimal vegetation at their centre. Macleay Island has a large savanna area, with some forested regions. A notable feature is the large Salis Lake in the island's north, which is surrounded by beaches on the east and west.
Shetvik & St Alouarn
The Territory of Shetvik & St Alouarn is a federal territory comprising of an island chain off the coast of Leeuwin, Western Australia, nearby the larger contiguous Ithyca. The Saint Alouarn islands were proclaimed, albeit briefly, as an independent nation by President Russell. During this, he renamed the large islands of Seal and Flinders Islands as Shetvik and South Alouarn respectively. This territory is roughly the same size as Ithyca's Naverkas, at 176,100 square metres.
Climate
The climate of the Concordian Republic is entirely temperate, with the maximum temperature between founding and the 11th March 2022 being a Christmas Day, 2021 high of 43.1° Celsius in Aeonia, and the minimum as 2.1° Celsius, recorded in Aeonia on the 2nd August 2021. Typically, warmer weather (25°+) will begin around mid-October, however in 2021 did not start until mid-November. It will get cooler in mid-May, or late April in 2021. There have been multiple major climate events in the history of the Concordian Republic. 10 years prior to its founding, Aeonia is devastated by bushfires that nearly destroyed the New Concordia Federal District. Just days after its founding, the New Concordia Federal District experienced a devastating flood, one that caused roofs to leak and Capitol Road to become a fast-flowing river. The heavy rains also brought the Aeonia Brook to its strongest. In December 2021 and January 2022, the entire Concordian Republic witnessed two heatwaves. One, over the Christmas period, saw temperatures exceed 40 °C for five days in a row.
Economy
The economy of the Concordian Republic is relatively small. The President, who earns only a small allowance, voluntarily pays taxes that fund much of the government's operations. Fruit is the primary export of the nation, harvested from the New Concordian Farm alongside eggs from chickens. A small industry in plants is also emerging, as the NCFD exports saplings and succulents. Some gifts are also made to members of the Concordian Republic, who sometimes give these to the Republic. Aeonia also exports small amounts of slate.
Tax
A tax system is being worked on in the Concordian Republic. This would require citizens earning over $5000 a year to pay a 0.5% tax, in order to ensure the Republic can operate and provide services. The government does not yet have a clear plan, but details can be seen throughout Concordian Republic documents.
Business
The Concordian government plays a role in the operation of some businesses, including shoe designer Sketch Shoes, and small surface mineral collection company Slate Aeonia. Both of these companies contribute a 5% business tax when they have a proper profit.
On the 24th March, the Concordian Stock Exchange opened. The stock exchange trades only in Concordian dollars, of which it can only accept cash. It is the only official stock exchange in the Concordian Republic.
Media and culture
The culture in the Concordian Republic is fairly developed. The official languages are English and Noongar, demonstrating the most popular language and the historical language of the area. A New Concordian Academy supplies small courses on a few topics, including Business, Politics and Agriculture. The arts is relatively prevalent in the community, with multiple citizens involved in amateur theatre. The CMBC is the only news organisation in the Concordian Republic.
Holidays
The holidays of the Concordian Republic are displayed in the table below.
| Date | Holiday | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | New Year | The first day of the new year |
| Summer Solstice | Solar New Year | The summer solstice day; all receive a day off to enjoy the sun. |
| First April weekend | Council Days | Days on which the Council Elections are held. |
| 10 May | Autumn Festival | The festival begins on this public holiday, and continues on for another 6 days. |
| 30 June | Independence Day | A commemoration of the day the Concordian Republic ceded from Australia. |
| Winter Solstice | Solar Midyear | The winter solstice day; all receive a day off to make use of the day. |
| 22 August | Day of the Republic | Celebrating the formation of the Second Concordian Republic. |
| 15 September | Spring Festival | The festival begins on this public holiday, and continues for 6 days. |
| First November weekend | General Election Days | A weekend during which all federal elections take place. |
| 25 December | Day of Gifts | A renamed, irreligious Christmas Day. |
| 26 December | Boxing Day | The day after Christmas (Day of Gifts). |
| 31 December | Old Year's Day | A day to celebrate the year that has been. |
Media organistion
The Concordian Media and Broadcasting Collective (CMBC) is the state-funded media organisation of the Concordian Republic. It is updated fairly regularly for a micronational publication. This is the source of multiple leaks later confirmed by the Concordian Government, such as the Basic Law. Despite having politicians as journalists, the organisation maintains all it's journalists write in fair and impartial manners.
Units and Currency in the Concordian Republic
The Concordian Republic boasts its own time zone and currency, and has previously considered a calendar system. The Concordian Standard Time (abbreviated as CST) is a time zone specific to the Concordian Republic, set at UTC+08:30. The Concordian dollar is one of the official currencies in the Concordian Republic, alongside the Australian dollar. It is valued at CN$1 to A$1.50. The Concordian Stock Exchange is the most major non-bank financial institution in the Concordian Republic, running on the Concordian dollar.
See also
- Aeonia
- Carrolinux
- New Concordia Federal District
- President of the Concordian Republic
- National Cabinet of the Concordian Republic
References
- ↑ MicroWiki. "Concordian Republic MicroWiki, 6 August 2021".
- ↑ CMBC News. "Nearly a Square Kilometre of Land to be Annexed".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "20/9/21".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "Treaty of Aeonia".
- ↑ CMBC News. "Shifting Borders and New Areas".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "14/2/22".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "11/3/22".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "17/3/22".
- ↑ CMBC News. "Huge Days for National Cabinet".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "18/3/22".
- ↑ CMBC News. "Analysis: Can the New Nationals surprise us?".
- ↑ CMBC News. "The National Cabinet Finally Sits!".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "Basic Law of the Concordian Republic".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "Aeonian Expansion Act 2022".
- ↑ Concordian Bureau of Public Affairs. "National Parks Act 2022".
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