Politics of the Oan Isles: Difference between revisions

* The Finance Minister, currently [[Kia Uye]], oversees government finances and prepares the national budget.

* The Foreign Minister, currently [[Arana Marama]], oversees diplomatic relations.

* The Defence Minister administers the armed forces, currently General [[Oahuoa Uyel|Oahuoa Uy]]<nowiki/>e.

The Oan Isles has control over other states which are nominally independent. In practice, the Oan Isles is the mother country. The states of the [[Kohatu Isles]] and Asian Pacific Islands have provisions in their constitutions which require Oan approval for the amendment of their constitutions and which delegate foreign relations, Defence and trade to the Oan Isles. Through the [[Polynesian Union]], they have a personal union with the Crown of Polynesia. This means that they recognized the Emperor of Polynesia as their head of state as well.

== Political culture ==

The Oan Isles is a highly democratic country with characteristics such as free and fair elections, consistently peaceful transfer of power, free press and freedom of speech, the rule of law and an independent and impartial judicial system. The Constitution is a written document that promotes and protects these fundamental ideals through the distribution of political power in different branches of government.

=== Civic society ===

The Oan Isles has a highly active civil society and political participation is very high. For instance, non-governmental organizations such as [[Freedom International]], [[Oan News]] and the Water Project have been instrumental in policy reform and public life. For instance, in 2017 Freedom International sued the government for allowing the Emperor to exert excessive influence over decision-making during the Auroran-Pacific War and the Supreme Court ruled in their favour - passing judicial precedent that restricts the exercise of the monarch's emergency powers. Another example, is Oan News which has defiantly issued scathing rebukes of the government such as an investigative piece alleging that the Oan government orchestrated or turned a blind eye to a terrorist attack on the country for political gain.

=== Political parties ===

Political parties play an active role in raising money, cultivating policy views and raising public awareness on political issues. Moreover, they are protected and participate freely in the political process. Yet, only 3 major political parties presently exist and only 2 of those have won substantial majorities in the legislature. The Oan voting-age public is highly politically transient. Meaning that party loyalty plays a minimal role in voting patterns. Additionally, restrictions on corporate donations and lobbying, have diluted the role of big money in politics, allowing anyone regardless of financial standing to successfully compete in elections.

The three parties that dominate politics are loosely administered and welcome a broad spectrum of people. This enables people of traditionally opposing political ideologies to rise and share space in the same political party. Although party discipline does exist to an extent in the legislature, members of the legislature are free to vote in any way they please compared to most parliamentary democracies. Coupled with the mercuriality of Oan voters and the relatively smaller role of financial resources in politics, there has been a disinclination to establish more political parties with the Konoa and Allied People's Party being the first major political party to be established in decades. The parties are as follows:

* The '''Pacifist Party''' is the largest party by number of seats in the Council of the People and by annual income (100 million KRB average annual income). It believes in the Oan principle of peaceful development which loosely translates to Pacifist in Staynish. This encompasses participation in multilateral organizations, openness to trade and alignment with democratic counties. This party is led by the incumbent Minister of Finance, [[Kia Uye]]. Prominent politicians aligned with this party include former Foreign and Prime Minister, Locklyn Le Roy.

* The '''Green Party''' is narrowly the second-largest party in the Council of the People and has the largest volunteer Corp (around 10,000 people annually). It promotes Oan principles of respecting nature. Thus, its policies strongly favour environmental conservation. It is led by the incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Arana Marama]]. Prominent politicians aligned with this party include [[Tipene Rahua]], the Director of the [[Oan Intelligence Bureau]].

* The '''Konoa and Allied People’s Party''' was founded in 2017 and is led by the incumbent Prime Minister [[Maui Uye-Ahua]]. The party promotes the right of the Konoan/Noan people to autonomy and was instrumental in the 2017 referendum that granted the Konoa region semi-autonomous status. It broadly promotes cultural and religious rights.

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=== Ideological factions ===

The side effect of this transience is that ideological factions play a larger role in political life. People loosely align themselves with these ideals and the contours of demographic reach are typically visible along sectarian lines. Major ideological factions are as follows:

* '''Conservatism''' i.e. a strong army, strictly aligning Oan Foreign policy with other democratic nations, and strategically intervening in the internal affairs of foreign nations. Oan political environment is more accurately assessed on the basis of factions. They strongly supported Oan entry in the Auroran-Pacific War, formation of the Auroran Union and resented Oan membership in the United Nations of the Auroran Continent. Former Emperor Ehe, Tipene Rahua and Locklyn Le Roy are believed to be part of this camp.

* '''Moderates''' call for a multilateralism, broad-based partnerships with other nations and international institutions. They strongly believed the Oan Isles joining the UNAC. Arana Marama is believed to the part of this camp.

* '''Pan-Polynesianism''' holds the belief that all Polynesian people should be united under the Emperor of Polynesia in some form. For this reason, they strongly supported the 2017 [[The Oan Isles#War of the Kohatu Isles|War of the Kohatu Isles]], support the independence or reintegration of the [[Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories]] into the Oan Isles and they resent Justelvard becoming a Constituent Country of Great Morstaybishlia. Prime Minister Maui Uye-Ahua and Emperor Oahoanu are believed to belong to this group.

The Oan Isles is a highly democratic politically stable and free nation. Thus, it has similar practices and systems to other well-established democracies such as free and fair elections, a free press and freedom of speech and an impartial and independent judiciary. Yet, it has unique characteristics which differentiate it from many other countries.

Political parties have a fairly minor role in Oan political culture. Usually, political parties are loosely organised and loosely administered except, perhaps, in the legislature. Political affiliation is mercurial and dispassionate. Rather, different social groups are more or less likely to exhibit certain ideological inclinations. For instance, the elite typically believe in a strong army and interventionist foreign policy while young educated believe in neither. Most people coalesce around core principles surrounding social welfare, worker rights, environmental protection and LGBT+ rights. This also makes people align with politicians who represent their immediate interests irrespective of political party affiliation. For logistical, practical and historic reasons, most politicians identify to some extent with the Green, Pacifist or Konoan People’s Party. On the Kohatu Islands, the Kohatu ruling party affiliates with the Pacifist Party. Restrictions on lobbyists and transparency of financial donations for political campaigning have reduced the influence of special interest groups and corporations on politicians.

The major political parties are as follows:

* The Green Party is usually the largest and most influential party. Its primary focus is promoting environmental conservation. This plays into Oan cultural values to conserve the environment and respect nature. Thus, people from a wide variety of political ideological backgrounds such as traditionalists, nationalists, anarchists and liberals can participate in it.

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