Fond of their traditional monarchy, voting for a ruler was seen as beneath the dignity of the Noble Peasants of Bermania. They had over the centuries come to believe, frequently by happy experience, that it was the ruler's responsibility to conduct himself properly, and he ought not have to be told. Participation in the government was all but refused by the Bermanian Peasantry. When seats in the Supreme Soviet went unfilled Nikita Kruschev unsuccessfully attempted to remedy the situation by placing want ads in Bermanian newspapers. Eventually he managed to fill several dozen seats through want ads placed in the Vladivostok edition of Pravda.
Nobody wants to live in Vladivostok.
The King of Bermania rules with the guidance of the Privy Council. Appointments to both civil and noble positions are based on character, loyalty, ability and personality. At any given time the members of the Privy Council may be either resident in Bermania or in exile with the King, one member being incorporial. According to feudal tradition, noble titles are often, but not necessarily inherited. However Knighthoods and civil titles are not.