The FRR Government

The structure of the Free Rasalhague Republic government closely follows that of the Principality of Rasalhague of the 23rd century. Political power is loosely divided among the Elected Prince (the Riksförestandare), the Parliament (the Riksdag), and the individual rulers of worlds (the Världherren). The citizens elect local officials every four years and representatives to the Riksdag every ten.

The Riksförestandare

To become the Elected Prince, a member of Parliament must have the support of more than three-fourths of his fellow parliamentarians. Though the public cannot elect a prince, they do hold a nonbinding poll to express their opinion on the candidates two weeks before the Riksdag votes.

The Elected Prince serves a ten-year term and is limited to two terms. The Riksförestandare is the political head of the Free Rasalhague Republic, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Rasalhague KungsArme and Chancellor of the Riksbank, the government's financial institution.

The Elected Prince has a circle of advisors to assist him. The members of this Royal Cabinet are the leaders of major governmental departments, though the current Prince is fond of allowing close friends to participate in Cabinet meetings. Prince Magnusson claims to be directly descended from Norse kings of ancient Terra, as well as the rulers of the old Principality. He has been prone to alludes to it frequently, especially when hard-pressed to get a favorite piece of legislation through the Riksdag.

This has led some to fear that he may attempt to overturn the limitation of two terms as Prince and make his title hereditary. Currently however due the state of emergency the limit of terms has been relaxed somewhat and Elected Prince Haakon Magnusson is holding the post for the time being, Republic has little will to change this, at least now during the duress of Rasalhague, Elected Prince's extra term is hardly the first thing that comes to the mind of Rasalhagian people. Thought certain elements of Motpart have been voicing their opinions, demanding a more dynamic Prince from military point of view.

Nobility

The Free Rasalhague Republic has a nobility system unique among the states of the Inner Sphere. The system of Världherren (world leaders) and Hertigs (dukes) refers to positions rather than titles. Some Hertigs are chosen by the Riksdag, and others by lirect election. They can lose the designation as easily as they get it.

Världherren are appointed world leaders. Each Världherre has a different term of office, decided by the planetary government. Hertigs are men and women who have earned the trust and respect of the people. Most Hertigs do not have specific duties to perform, though they are expected to counsel the Värlherre on political matters and to attend sessions of the Riksdag.

The Riksdag

The Rasalhague Parliament is composed of four Estates. Though only the First and Second Estates have the power to draft bills, all have the right to vote on legislation. For a bill to become law, three of the four Estates must approve it and then it must be signed by the Elected Prince. The Riksdag may overturn a princely veto by a vote of all four Estates.

The First Estate is composed of the realm's Världherren and Hertigs. The director of the First Estate is the Landtmarskalk, or Marshal of the Lands. The Landtmarskalk also sets the Riksdag agenda, a potent responsibility. The post is considered second in importance only to the princeship in the Republic.

The Second Estate is composed of the FRR's planetary representatives. Each world elects five representatives to the Second Estate, giving rise to its popular name of the People's Parliament.

The Third Estate is composed of the head clergymen of the major religions in the FRR. When it comes to a vote on the important political or monetary bills, the Third Estate tends to follow the lead of the People's Parliament. On the other hand, the members of the Third Estate believe that moral, spiritual, and social questions are their domain, and often its rulings inspire legislation in the First or Second Estate.

The Fourth Estate is composed of the realm's most important business leaders. Those who control a company with a net worth over 100 million R-bills, or who own more than 10,000 hectares of land are invited to become members of the Fourth Estate.

The four Estates of the Riksdag met in the immense and solemn Palace Hall in the old capital of Rasalhague. Sessions of the Riksdag normally begin on January 1 and continue until July 1, though crises have forced several emergency sessions. In addition to the Riksdag, there were Provincial Riksdags but due to the reduced state of the Republic the Riksdag convenes in Orestes.

Political Alignments

Prince Magnusson has always been a shrewd politician who has been careful not to anger any special-interest group. Among his most ardent supporters are the men and women who fought alongside him in either the Tyr rebellions before the Fourth Succession War or in the Ronin Wars. One of these people was Tor Miraborg. The two met when both were serving time in a Combine prison for attempting to incite riots in 3022. After their release, the two went on to become key members in the Tyr. When Magnusson was angling for Rasalhague sovereignty, he contacted Miraborg, who began building support for him.

After the creation of the Republic, the grateful Prince appointed Miraborg Military Commander of the Radstadt Province. At that time, he also was elected Världherre of his homeworld of Gunzburg. Världherre Miraborg remained one of the Prince's staunchest supporters and an ironfisted ruler of his world. The loss of his daughter broke his spirit and when clansmen came to fight for the fate of Gunzburg, Miraborg turned the system over without a battle, hoping to avoid a bloody slaughter which he believed was forthcoming.


Despite his attempts to maintain support from all sides, Prince Magnusson's government has been notable for the lack of Tyr members from the "Lyran Half," worlds conquered by the Lyran Commonwealth during the Fourth Succession War. Whether this has been a coincidence or a deliberate snub is not known.

Those who oppose Prince Magnusson have formed the small Motsatt Stälning Parti, or Motpart for short. This party consists of members of the Riksdag who oppose the Prince on principle or who were once Tyr members from the Lyran Half. During the military crisis Motpart has been silent, for the most part agreeing with Elected Prince Magnussons policies. After the Tukayyid Truce Motpart has again become more politically active, of lately it has garnered more support among the more military minded people and is continually driving for a more active military role, from which the current Elected Prince has shied away.

The leader of the Motpart was General Christian Månsdotter, the ranking officer of the KungsArme and the Landtmarskalk of the Riksdag. Born and raised in the Lyran Commonwealth, Christian Månsdotter was an LCAF officer who requested and won the right to command the newly formed Tyr BattleMech regiment. The fame he won as regimental commander and his leadership skills should have made him the obvious choice for head of the new Rasalhague state, but then came Haakon Magnusson's bombshell treaty with the Draconis Combine. With the advent of the more militant wing another person has appeared in the limelights, Nicholas Waltari, a celebrated war hero.

Prince Magnusson could not simply ignore Christian Månsdotter's skills or his popularity, and so he appointed the general to command the KungsArme. The Riksdag appointed him Landtmarskalk in 3042, a post he held before being captured by the clans. Currently he is effectively civilian administrator of the Rasalhague planets in Clan Wolf Occupation Zone and is actively working for the sovereignty of Rasalhague.

Månsdotter and the Motpart always were suspicious of the Draconis Combine's motives for helping Rasalhague achieve independence. Fearing that the Kuritans will return one day to claim their lost worlds, the Motpart sought closer relations with the Federated Commonwealth, even at the risk of provoking the Combine. For General Månsdotter and his followers, the Federated Commonwealth was the only guarantor of Rasalhague's independence. But as it turned out, even Federated Commonwealth could not guarantee anything. Motpart has duly changed views, the only one that can guaranteed the independence of Rasalhague is Rasalhague itself with a strong military.



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