Yesterday was the greatest day for Theodorist and Socialist political government in the Regional Dominion. The second Supreme Soviet Gorsedh of Burnham was assembled at 19:00 GMT on the 25th July 2013, and it did not adjourn until 20:22 of the same evening. Many things were discussed, and the internal military, judiciary and advisory bodies were created. Such monumental advancement in the country had not been seen in such a way since the May 31st Revolution.
Credit for such advancement lies solely in the hands of Comrade Joseph Kennedy, a former revolutionary from Saint Edward and Domanglia, and the current President of the Federation of Ashukovo, a nation that Burnham already has diplomatic relations with. Following his enrolment as a citizen of Burnham and a Doge of the Supreme Soviet, Sar Kennedy worked tirelessly to present thoughtful discussion and motion on the development of Theodorism in Burnham.
The Gorsedh began with the discussion and choice of a new national anthem for Burnham. While ‘Cry of the Celts’ (artist unknown) has been the temporary anthem of Burnham for over a fortnight, Basileus Justinian I thought it best that the Supreme Soviet should decide collectively on an anthem that would best represent the nation. After comparing many different potential songs (including a Progressive metal track by the Australian band ‘Karnivool’), it was decided that Burnham would adopt the Red Army Choir’s ‘Song of the Volga Boatmen’ featuring Leonid Kharitonov as it’s national anthem, with the exception that the lyrics would be rewritten to better suit Burnham. The Basileus, with his capacity for absolute control of Burnham culture, has tasked it upon himself to write those lyrics.
Second on the agenda was the matter of defence; Burnham had, since before the May 31st Revolution, only been protected by an unnofficial, voluntary militia with no ranks and no organisation at all. This militia was so disorganised that it was not even eligible for becoming a Legion of the Würtige Imperial Army, the defence force of the Empire Burnham is subservient to. However, during the Gorsedh, the militia was replaced by an again voluntary, but properly organised armed force. The Defence Army of Burnham (Burnham Verdijen Takma / Бypнxaм Вepдыйeн Taкмa (BVT) in Prospekh) is under the direct control of the Supreme Soviet (although Basileus Justinian I can take emergency control of the force if the country is immediately threatened), and is divided into three Legions (Mojras / Мoйpac in Prospekh); a Guardian Legion to protect Burnham territory; a Private Legion made of non-territorial Burnhamite citizens that also functions as the Burnham Legion in the Würtige Imperial Army; and a Foreign non-citizen Legion that operates in a similar vein to the International brigades of the Spanish Civil War – partisans from other countries/micronations under control of Burnhamite personnel. Each Legion is headed by a Warlord (Kregsherriff / Кpeгcxeppыфф in Prospekh), which is in turn subservient to the Supreme Soviet who controls the force when the nation is threatened by war, epidemic, natural distaster or national/international emergency.
The official Constitutional Amendment for the creation of the BVT was thus:
“The Burnham Militia be dissolved and replaced fully by the Burnham Verdijen Takma, with Basileus Justinian I of Burnham, Kaiser Arthur I of Würdigeland, and Tsar Thomas I of Nolland becoming Kregsherriffs of the Dominion, with overall command being given to the Supreme Soviet Gorsedh, and Basileus Justinian I of Burnham during times of extreme emergency.”
Following this, the Council of People’s Commissars was founded, with individuals of the Supreme Soviet forming an advisory body to the Basileus, to ensure that the Theodorist principles that the May 31st Revolution instilled were never lost. The positions of the Doges of the Supreme Soviet in the Council were this:
Basileus Justinian I: Head of Council & People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs and State Media.
Tsar Thomas I: People’s Commissar of Defence and Propaganda.
Sar Velasquez: People’s Commissar of Sports.
Kyng Second: People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs.
Upon being asked about the reasoning behind the Council of People’s Commissars, Sar Kennedy replied the “[The Council] would insure that the party would always hold power, while giving other parties a chance to make an impact.”
The creation of the Council of People’s Commissars (CPC) was entirely the idea of Sar Kennedy, who stood out as a Socialist politician with his next motion: The creation of the Theodorist Workers’ Party of Burnham. This in turn created a General Election for a General Secretary, which would then head a People’s Commons Gorsedh, which would then shift power between both it and the Supreme Soviet. This will either make Burnham a bicameral state, or provide the Supreme Soviet with a new major petitioning and advisory body. The official motion was as follows:
“The Theodorist Workers’ Party of Burnham shall immediately hold 40% of the seats in the Supreme Soviet or the Gorsedh that serves as the Party Commons in the future. It is illegal for the Theodorist Workers’ Party of Burnham to have any less than 40% seats, although it may have more as required. The remaining 60% of the Commons shall be elected from other political parties/independents, and all parties (including the Vanguard Party) are permitted to present candidates for the General Election.”
The final part of the Agenda added another institution to the Dominion, this time a Civil Service Gorsedh that would deal with judicial matters both within Burnham and in Burnham’s international affairs. Burnham has been organised into a single judicial district, and with Basileus Justinian I as Supreme Judge, Tsar Thomas I of Nolland has become the Regional Dominion’s first District Attorney. A legal system and a mock trial to test it are expected soon.
Overall, the Gorsedh has built even stronger foundations for the nation’s political workings, which compliment the cultural efforts made in the previous months. The nation, with it’s new advisory, military and judicial bodies, will soon be able to step onto the Micronational world stage and become a culturally unified, politically strong willed nation, fulfilling the ideals of the Basileus from the nation’s nascent days in September 2011.
In international news, at 21:00 on the 25th July 2013 (just over 30 minutes after the Gorsedh was adjourned), the Labour Party of Ashukovo held its’ first Party Congress. Justinian I and Jonathan I of Burnham and Austenasia respectively observed and voted in the Congress, which saw Sar Kennedy become a member of the party’s Politburo alongside Comrade Sebastian Schriber, the new Party Constitution verified and accepted, and the Green Party (previously under Sar Schriber) merging with the Labour Party. At the end of the Congress, the Internationale was played, and the gathered Socialists felt pride at the successes of the day.
Tonight, the Nollandish Supreme Soviet opens, cementing Theodorism in their government, which until now has been notionally leftist, but with still largely constitutional monarchist elements from before their revolution.
Theodorism and Socialism have really taken off in the Micronational Community this summer, and the Leftist action does not seem to want to stop!
