Vetthi Government

The Vetthi Republic is ruled by an elected republican government, selected from traditional noble families as well as prominent landowners and business interests.

The government is an assembly of forty-three “Peers” (Otraint, meaning “hearth-keeper”), of which twelve are from the semi-hereditary gentry (Kedrorn), twenty-four elected from the provinces (Kenal), plus the administrative chief of the combined armed forces (Shelurd). All have equal collegiate voting powers, but leaders are by convention, though not always, drawn from the kedrorn. Politically the assembly divides into various factions based on regional, religious and ideological perspectives, though there are no political parties as such and these groupings are fluid. As well as the official assembly of peers there are a host of regional officials, bureaucrats and representatives of commercial and mercantile groups, all who vie for power and favours in the assembly.

Family, history and respectability, as well as personal ability, are vital to success in the Vetthi assembly. Candidates for the Otraint-Kedrorn must be from a highly respected family, with a recent history of successful public office. Candidates for the Kenal must meet a financial qualification, as well as having a respectable pedigree. Traditionally the Kenal were major landowners, though in modern times they may also be powerful merchants or manufacturers. Traditional electoral rules dictate that a Peer must employ a significantly large work force with a qualifying turnover, the system being designed to encourage good working conditions in return for workers voting for their employer. However this system has been criticised in modern times, with recent candidates from the new mercantile class gaining support from an unprecedented cross section of the urban population.

The rules do not specify that Peers must be female, but given the familial and financial qualifications, a majority are, particularly amongst the landowning classes. Males in recent times comprise roughly a quarter of the assembly, though they are significantly more important behind the scenes.

The Kedrorn (singular Kedron) are the twelve hereditary peers, elected from amongst the class of nobles with the honorific cognomen Purpas. This honour is bestowed for supreme public service, either to them personally, or upon a recent ancestor (up to three generations). Kedrorns must be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly. The purpose of the Kedrorn is to provide continuity and stability in government, without creating a permanent aristocracy, although members of distinguished families are motivated to strive to maintain their Kedrorn status, and in practice a number of families have held Kedrorn posts for generations. New Kedrorns are only appointed when an incumbent dies or retires.

These are the elected peers, one from each of the twenty-four electoral districts. The Kenal are elected by a vote of the local adult citizens in each region, in a three-yearly election which selects both national and local councillors (sempel).

The Sepela are the six regional governors, responsible to the assembly for maintaining order and ensuring the rule of law. Candidates usually emerge from the ranks of the Kenal, appointed by the assembly from amongst their ranks. Candidacy for governorship must be seconded by at least one Kedron and at least two local councillors, then ratified by a simple majority of the council. Traditionally there were six governorships, Harab and Eirr having local such small populations that they are subordinate to Thatn and Pairen, respectively.

The Shelurd is commander in chief of Vetthi military forces, selected by the assembly from a shortlist of candidates who each must be seconded by a Kedron. This makes a potential maximum of twelve candidates, but in practice they are usually whittled down to two candidates, the winner appointed by simple majority.

The Shelurd is in supreme command of the state's armed forces, including the navy guarding shipping, coastal defences, and the internal armed forces.

The Military Commission is responsible for administering the Republic's military forces, such as recruitment, supplies and general logistics. The Commission consists of appointees from the various divisions of the armed forces, who act according to policy set by the general government. They are overseen by a committee of usually three assembly members, specifically not including the Shelurd. In previous centuries, military commanders have been able to use the civil service to amass too much personal power, so the assembly now acts to minimise this.

Local peers form the Board, or executive, of the regional councils for each province. They are generally elected every three years, though local communal assembles have the power to disbar councillors or call elections whenever public opinion is strong enough, so local politics is often rambunctious and elections can happen at any time.

The Sevaint are the chief officials of each branch of government.

Although governance has been relatively stable through Vetthi history, despite often vicious political wars and infighting, the method for electing peers has changed greatly throughout the ages. The traditional government system (within the past five hundred years, at least) was intended to primarily represent the “home provinces”, with the two “colonial districts” to the north being adjuncts. The voting system was designed to allow accountability, healthy transition of governance, and to prevent dictatorship.

Elections are held every three years, with Senior Peers (Otraint Kenal) being allowed to serve for a maximum of five terms, thereby discounting time spent in local government or the civil service.

Voting is by district, the boundaries being determined by population. Four months before an election, candidates must formally announce their intentions. At the conclusion of the election, the candidate with the greatest share of the vote becomes Kenal. The next two candidates, if they have received a significant proportion of the vote, become Local Peers, so that each consituency is essentially a triumvirate.

Traditionally voting was a public ballot, with each qualifying citizen public declaring their allegiance. This was changed to a secret ballot ninety years ago, voters marking their ballot by painting a particular colour on a voting shell, the colours being chosen by random selection at the start of polling.