Federal Republic of Ionia

* Flag
* Territory
* President
* Chancellor

> Social Democracy! Equality! Freedom! For these ideals we shall fight the autocrats of New Lenya, and emerge as a bastion of hope for Helinska!
>
> Slogan of the Kanorian Republican Uprising of 1957

The **Federal Republic of Ionia** (*Bundersrepublik Ionien*) is a medium sized nation in Central Helinska that borders the Kanorian Empire and Republic of Laronia to the north, the Grand Regency of Lear to the West and the Socialist Republic of Kokinos to the South. It was one of the founding members of the Aurelian Senate, and is a member of the Observatory Council of the Interstellar Cooperation Organization.

The nation was founded in 1972, after the death of Emperor Osea I led to the redrawing of the borders of the Kanorian Empire. The Felrin, Eldynstein and Southern Provinces had all been a part of a Fulcrum backed Republican Uprising in 1957 due to Kanoria's neutrality in the War of the End-Times. Although this government was crushed, republican sentiments lived on, and eventually resulted in the region gaining independence as the Federal Republic of Ionia in 1972.

## Subdivisions of Ionia

Being a Federal Republic, Ionia is divided into three provinces whose governments wield significant powers. These provinces are the Felrin Province, Southern Province and Eldynstein Province. Additionally, Ionia has several smaller Subdivisions, with each city having its own municipal government. Additionally, villages and towns with small populations are grouped together into 'Rural Councils', which are equivalent to the municipal governments of towns and cities.

## Governance

### President of Ionia

When the Federal Republic was first formed in 1972, it was crafted as a parliamentry republic along the lines of Polmaria and Kherfiyyah, with a Prime Minister (or in Ionia's case, Chancellor) selected by the legislature being the true head with a President acting as little more than a ceremonial figurehead, with their only significance being during situations of a hung parliament. This system remained in place for decades, with Emily Fisher's social democratic Ionian Labour Party controlling both the Chamber of Councillors and post of President.

Throughout Ionia's early history, the post of President remained nothing more than a ceremonial one, with it commonly being used to install politicians with long and accomplished careers as a form of retirement, and occassionally being used to get rivals within a party out of the way- such as with the case of President Albrecht Muntz, who was a major leader of the left-wing of the Labour Party and was made President by centrist Labour Chancellor Wilheim Reinhart.

This system began to face challenges in the early 2100s, following the exit of Ionia from the 'Reunited Empire' of Olexander II. During this time, a common trend emerged, with the Labour Party winning majorities in the Chamber of Councillors, while the liberal Ionian Democratic Party's charismatic individual candidates fared well in Presidential elections. These Democrat Presidents, frustrated with their lack of power, slowly shifted powers from the Chancellor to the President, until the modern system emerged, with both posts having roughly even powers. The current President of Ionia is Eric Karlson of the Democratic Party- a moderate and 'centrist', pursuing liberal policies both socially and fiscally.

### Chancellor of Ionia

When the Federal Republic was first formed in 1972, Emily Fisher- the pioneer of its constitution- chose to follow a system of government similar to Polmaria and Kherfiyyah, with a Prime Minister- or in Ionia's case a Chancellor- chosen by the parliament being the centre of power with a President as a mostly ceremonial head of state. The first Chancellor was unsurprisingly Emily Fisher of the Labour Party, with her close ally Olaf Schacht becoming the first President.

Throughout Ionia's early history, the Chancellor remained the dominant position in the country, with the President being more of a last stop in the careers of famous and accomplished politicians and generals. However, as time went on, the position of Chancellor- which was almost always held by the Labour Party- began to be dominated by members of political dynasties, along with the Labour party itself. The vibrant internal democracy of the party declined, with the families of Emily Fisher and Wilheim Reinhart dominating politics, ultimately leading to anger with the republican government and the formation of the 'Reunited Empire' under Emperor Olexander II of the Kanorian Empire.

## Early History

### Leadup (1930s-1970s)

*See: Fulcrum invasion of Kanoria, Kanorian Fraternal War, Kanorian Revolution and Republic of Kanoria*

## Modern History

### Kanorian Crisis (2190s)

In 2195, a series of explosions rocked the Kanorian Empire- Ionia's northern neighbour. Fearing terrorist attacks or some malicious forces, the Imperial government demanded aerthernet records relating to the Kanorian Empire from Ionia, particularly records from Unity.