Associated Powers Bloc

Aourh, officially the State of Aourh (Aourhan: Đewītal Yaour̄‘), is a country located in the Associated Powers Bloc comprising previously unclaimed lands currently inhabited by the erstwhile nomadic Aourhan people in accordance with international treaties and proclamations observed by neighboring countries, which refused to exercise control over the territory due to historical border discrepancies with each other following a power vacuum. Instead of reaching an agreement on their conflicting claims, a compromise allowed the Aourhan people to permanently occupy the land for the establishment of their new state in June 1959.

Etymology

In April 1913, when foreign powers devised administrative boundaries to steal land and resources from the tribes of the region, they discovered that the territory now occupied by Aourh was not actually used by any tribe other than at sporadic times by the nomadic Aourh tribe as a grazing spot. They named the whole region 'Mekabuth' in honor of the Mekabuth mountains southwest of what would become Pakadlo. Upon independence in 1959, the country formally adopted the name 'State of Aourh' (Đewītal Yaour̄‘) in honor of Hynáour̄, the mythical wise judge widely seen as an ancestor of the Aourhan people according to their oral tradition.

History

The earliest archaeological sites from the Gāuka River basin indicate that the area has been sporadically inhabited by at least five different peoples over the centuries, but only the Aourhans formally named the land during their nomadic transit through the region. The modern State of Aourh was known in Ancient Aourhan as 'Zouraa'. By the mid-20th century Aourhans began settling the area, then a no man's land, by establishing towns and farms in the Gāuka Valley and other available lands within its vicinity, even if the latter areas were unsuitable for long-term settlement. They had been forced to initiate the settlement process by feuding neighboring governments wanting to keep each other from inhabiting the disputed territory. As their villages evolved into towns and cities through industry and agriculture, Aourhans started the process of creating administrative institutions in preparation for eventual statehood, which they now saw as a political possibility given the international deadlock regarding the future of the territory. The development of efficient infrastructure throughout the land was followed by societal cohesion and stability as more and more nomadic Aourhans in the broader region decided to settle. Youth-oriented communities called wergākis began to flourish, initially around university campuses but later independently, forming the base of the intellectual class that spearheaded the campaign for independence and the eventual proclamation of the State of Aourh on 19 June 1959 in the Mekabuth University Assembly Hall in the wergāki of Zőutadlo.

Between 1959 and 2007, no political party ever obtained more than twenty five percent of the vote in Llásþing elections, necessitating the creation of broad coalitions to approve the appointment of prime ministers and form stable governments, usually led by the Workers' Federation List (RAIO) or United Congress of Aourh (KYY) depending on the ideological tilt of the administration. In the 2007 Llásþing election, an exception arose as new electoral threshold requirements and a reduced turnout—54.8 percent of the total voting-age population—saw the United Congress of Aourh winning 61 seats and forming a majority government. Nevertheless, said majority would not be reelected as Aourhans increasingly became disenchanted with the scandal-ridden KYY government. Not even a change of leadership, with Prime Minister Galon Namurt announcing as early as May 2009 that he would not lead the party into the 2011 Llásþing election, was enough to prevent a landslide defeat at the hands of the electorate in that election. Initially it was planned that dissident moderate conservatives would run under the new Independent Congress Party (MKA), with the ultimate goal of preventing a left-wing RAIO victory and instead forcing the creation of a centrist coalition with the party and retaining some control over Aourhan government policy. Despite some criticism of their platform, the MKA launched a campaign named "Independents for the MKA" which was aimed at allowing KYY loyalists to leave the party without embracing the still-feared "Socialist Menace" of the RAIO. These would presumably join with the small number of MKA voters to form a fusion electorate for the new party but their plan failed as more middle-of-the-road voters than they anticipated were willing to vote for the RAIO and other centre-left parties. The resulting election of Quinctius Jikon—who was backed by 43 percent of Aourh's voters—as Prime Minister of Aourh kickstarted a redefinition of the country's role in the world, signaling a shift towards integration with other countries in a federal or confederal structure to guarantee the survival of common values. A government white paper suggested approaching developing countries to strengthen their economies and their institutions of government. The white paper also rejected the assimilation of new nations into the new confederation's traditional values and cultural norms, encouraging instead the celebration of distinctive cultures and traditions within an integrated society. During the following decade, several foreign powers published reports expressing support for the creation of a confederal union of free states and Aourh helmed the establishment of the Associated Powers Bloc (APB) in 2021. The country's newfound image of stability and the economic stimulation brought about by its entry into the APB has resulted in an absolute loyalty towards Prime Minister Jikon and his party, particularly around Pakadlo and Hjomtudlo, always ensuring their minor allies in the Llásþing have sufficient support to keep the RAIO in power, even if with a one-seat majority (as was the case after the 2019 Llásþing election), when the main party suffers a drop in its share of the vote.

_{Prime Ministerial Standard}

Population

The State of Aourh is a genial nation, renowned for its museums and concert halls, smutty television, restrictive gun laws and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 36 million Aourhans hold their civil and political rights very dear, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

Language

Aourh's official languages are Aourhan and English. Mekabuthese—better known as 'Aourhan Pidgin'—was recognized as one of three official languages of the State of Aourh until 2001, when the government began cracking down on its daily use based on its origin as a vernacular form of the Aourhan language as opposed to the more 'clean' official version now found in the mainstream. The use of Mekabuthese by state institutions is currently prohibited and limited by law among the population, being considered a "special deviation from Aourhan expression." Although Aourhan remains the primary language of the state and is spoken every day by the majority of the population, a diehard minority engages in widespread civil disobedience by speaking Mekabuthese and refusing to speak in pure Aourhan.

Religion

Although freedom of religion is legally guaranteed, religious faiths are hardly pluralized in Aourh as nearly 80% of the population is Hynáourite. Nonetheless, Hynáourites are very religious, with over two-thirds regularly attending shrine services, and their practices vary according to specific denomination. Duryon Hynáourites make up 46% of the population while 14% identify as Kinturyon, 10% as Varye and 7% as Plironi. Plironi Hynáourites, however, are expected to represent more than a quarter of Aourh's population by 2035 due to their rapid population growth. Western Ichabidians—who are often discriminated against—constitute the largest religious minority in Aourh, making up about 16% of the population. Neo-Merroanists comprise about 4.2% of the population whereas 2% of Aourhans are Yretpi.

Largest Cities

Government

Aourh is a parliamentary democracy with universal suffrage. A member of parliament supported by a parliamentary majority is nominated to become the prime minister (kāchahùm)—usually this is the leader of the largest party despite not being required. The prime minister is the head of government and head of the cabinet. The President of Aourh (Kīskÿet Yaour̄‘) is head of state with limited and largely ceremonial duties. The large, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Pakadlo. The average income tax rate is 64.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The country is governed by the Llásþing, a unicameral parliament consisting of 120 MLs (members of the Llásþing) elected for a maximum five-year term with immediate re-election by closed list proportional representation of political parties in a single nationwide electoral district—under a modified D'Hondt method for allocation (with a 5% electoral threshold)—although the prime minister, unstable coalition governments (which are frequent), or a no-confidence vote by the Llásþing can dissolve a government earlier. Legislative power rests with both the government and the Llásþing. Constitutional guarantees include freedom of expression, the press, religion, movement and association.

The judiciary, led by the High Court of Justice (Th'Uat Đrutewøt Izitsāy‘), is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Aourhan High Court of Justice is the court of last resort of appeal against judgements in the lower courts. It also passes resolutions to clarify specific legal provisions and resolve disputable questions in specific cases. The High Court is known for vehemently protecting civil rights and the right to privacy. Its judges are elected by the Llásþing to serve ten-year terms of office.

_{B'Áanþil Kāchahùm, official residence and executive office of the Prime Minister of Aourh}

Contemporary Aourh is the result of Hynáourite culture and history as shaped by the years of nomadism and the long fight for statehood, as well as the history and customs of the Western Ichabidian community and all ethnic minorities that inhabit the country. Hynáourite influence in Aourhan literature, poetry, philosophy, art, folklore, music, cinema, holidays, cultural events cannot be understated. Such is the case that even Prime Minister Quinctius Jikon has claimed that tax rises are the result of 'curses' and gambling is outlawed. Every 19 June (Day of Independence), the national day of Aourh, elderly Aourhans mark the occasion by having cane fights in their homes or care facilities and selected photographers can be found ceremonially hiding behind the curtains in the prime minister's bedroom at B'Áanþil Kāchahùm. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the capable Aourh Police (Ghīrtara Yaour̄‘) and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Aourh's national animal is the horse, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Mass media

Economy

The frighteningly efficient Aourhan economy, worth X6.7 trillion a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 185,856 xuvőphs, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.7 times as much as the poorest.

See also

◾️ Associated Powers Bloc