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Democratic Christian Federation of Melite

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Democratic Christian Federation of Melite
Il-Federazzjoni Demokratika Kristjana ta Melite (Maltese)
Flag of Melite
Co-Flags
Top: State and Ethnic Flag
Bottom: Civil Ensign
Motto: "Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat!" (Latin)
"Christ Wins, Christs Rules, Christ Conquers!"
Anthem: National Anthem of Melite

Presidential Anthem: Giovinezza
StatusActive
LocationMediterranean Sea
CapitalDominica Autonomous City
Largest StateComino
Official languagesEnglish
Maltese
Religion
Roman Catholicism (official[a])
Demonym(s)Melitian
GovernmentCommunist Republic
(2019 – 2021)
Republic
(2021 – June 2022)
Federal republic
(June 2022 –)
• President
Matthew T. (PNK)
Simeon Nikolov (ZA-CNP)
• Premier
Jayden Dagsa (PNK)
Matthew Vella (PNK)
Ted Kaz (PNK)
LegislatureIn Melite:

Parliament of Melite

In Fgura:

Fgura Regional Council
Independence 
from Malta
• Foundation
27 September 2019
• Socialist Fgura SAR established
30 October 2021
• District Act passed
9 January 2022
• Federalisation
7 June 2022
Population
• 2022 estimate
40
• Census
39 (residential)
1 (diplomatic)
CurrencyTonna bucks
Euro (TB/€)
Time zoneUTC-1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC-2 (CET+1)
Date formatdd/mm/yy
Calling code+356
IMSO 1 codeMLT
Preceded by
Malta
Democratic Communist Republic of 11B

Melite (mel-ee'-tay), officially the Democratic Christian Federation of Melite (Maltese: Il-Federazzjoni Demokratika Kristjana ta Melite) abbreviated as D.C.F. Melite in some instances, formerly the Democratic Christian Republic of 11B (D.C.R. 11B) and the Second Democratic Christian Republic of Melite (Maltese: It-Tieni Repubblika Demokratika Kristjana ta Melite), is a self-proclaimed sovereign state, commonly known as a micronation by external observers, located in Malta.

Melite is classified as Brick and Mortar in the Qualitative Classification (Tallini), a 4.6 in Dresner's System of Classification and a 2.4 in Linden's Revised System of Classification. Melite classifies itself as a democratic Christian republic (not to be confused with Christian Democratic), as it follows direct democracy but in the light of the Cathecism. Melite is a full member of the Organization of European Micronations, the Alliance of the Micronations, the Micronational Olympic Federation, and is a founding member of the Union of Christian Sovereign Micronations. The most widely spoken language is English, but Maltese takes precedence in law, with decrees often being written bilingually.

Etymology

Originally, in the inception of the micronation in the secondary school, the Democratic Communist Republic of 11B, the name would change every year according to the class number, with the last one being 11, to correspond with the Form 5 school grade. The name Melite, came as an idea to the first President of Melite, Matthew T., and immediately adopted after the 2021 referendum on a potential name change. The word Melite comes from the Latin word for Honey. It was also the name of the Maltese city of Mdina in the Roman Era. The word comes from the Ancient Greek "Μελίτη", also meaning calm or honey sweet.[1]

Official names

  • 2021 – 2022: Democratic Christian Republic of Melite
  • 2022–Present: Democratic Christian Federation of Melite

History

Christian Communist period

Founded in a Maltese secondary school in 2019, it lasted two scholastic years in the first capital, Santa Venera (now Leoni State). The idea of seceding from Malta came to Matthew T. and his two friends Andre Mifsud and Eman Chetcuti, who would serve as General Secretary, President and Premier of the new Republic respectively. The sole legal political party at the time, the Potato Party (Maltese: Il-Partit Patatista), used democratic centralism and the triumvirate system as a guiding principle for its functioning. Roman Catholicism has always served as the state religion, paving the way to what would be called "Christian Communism". After the end of the scholastic period in 2021, the micronation would collapse, together with contact with the classmates.

Name change and current period

Christian Communism and democratic centralism were abandoned for a full semi-federal, presidential, Christian republic under Matthew T. in late September 2021, with 27 September being considered Founding Day. The Capital City was moved to Dominica in the Maltese town of Rabat. Resurgence in activity would occur due to the discovery of social media Discord, which helps manage state affairs. The Christian Nationalist Party would later be founded and initially served as the sole political party of Melite, not due to other political parties being illegal, but due to it being the only party in existence at the time. The party would then be followed by eight more parties, of which only five survived.

Federalisation

After around nine months in the unitary, Christian, presidential framework, Melite's government system was transformed to that of a federation with the Federalisation and Vice-President of Melite Act, tabled by Thomas Jacobs, an MP from the State of Melincia, then still a district, and future Vice President.[2] Melite's claims consist of seven pockets of land on the island of Malta, and the whole island of Comino classified as 6 states and a territory. They are landlocked by Maltese territory and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and in close proximity with the Free Socialist State of Paloma, through the territory of Paloman Melita, 6.03 kilometers north away from the capital Dominica. Two exclave claims, North Zagoria and Castra Lamia, claimed from Bulgaria and Greece respectively, are classified as overseas exclave states.

Administrative divisions

The Democratic Christian Federation of Melite is made up of a total of seven states, an Autonomous City and the Socialist Fgura Special Administrative Region. Aside from the States, which are headed by a Governor, all are either administered semi-independently, or under military administration. A constitutional convention has been called and is being held to draft, present and promulgate a constitution formalising Melitian laws.

States of Melite

On 8 January 2022, the Parliament of Melite passed the 2022 District Act,[3] dividing Melite into eight districts, excluding the Fgura S.A.R. The Bill would permit every district to bring forward two candidates to act as Members of Parliament representing their District. The legitimacy of the District land claims is that at least one local citizen resides in the land claim. As of writing, six of the eight districts are inhabited with a local citizen, with the issue of the two non-locally inhabited land claims to be abolished and ceded back to the Republic of Malta raised in Parliament, but not yet acted on. But afterwards, Bill 8/2022 on Federalisation and Vice President of Melite, 2022 was tabled by Thomas Jacobs (PNK-MEL) and passed by a margin of 4 in favour, and two against, with 6 Members of Parliament abstaining, or absent.[2]

State Governor Flag
Dominica (Autonomous City) Matthew T. (PNK)
Comino Jayden Dagsa (PNK)
Kilna Paul Slawovski (PNK)
Leoni Classified (PNK)
Melincia[b] Thomas Jacobs (PNK)
Mustensis Matthew Vella (PNK)
Saracinia Matthew Trapani (PNK)
Overseas Exclave States
North Zagoria Simeon Nikolov (ZA-CNP)

Special Administrative Region

SAR Mayor-President
Coat of Arms
Flag
Socialist Fgura Ted Kaz (EAA)

Territories

Territory with representation

Name Flag Map

Incorporated, unorganised territory

Name Flag

Former claims

Territory Last Head Flag Dissolved
Northern Rhodesia Vidak Jovic (PDPM) 27 May 2022
Melitian Dilu Sean Dunkerque (PNK)
Birmula State Rishi Patel (IND) 15 February 2022[4]

Government

Overview

Melite is a federal Christian, semi-presidential republic, where the President of Melite and Fgura serves as the head of state, and the Premier serves as the leader of the government side of the Melitian Parliament. A small difference is that the President of Melite is allowed a seat in the Parliament of Melite representing his state. Local Governors of the states have strong authority in changing symbols of the districts districts, internal governing of the states, or raise issues directly to the Parliament on issues in the particular state. A Mayor is the head of an Autonomous City. Military Commissars were the heads of a Military Commissariat, which was a NAM-occupied land with no representation in Melitian legislatures.

Political parties

Melite has five political parties registered with the electoral commission, with all but one of them holding at least one seat of the 10 total seats. The Christian Nationalist Party is currently in control of the Presidency, and 7 seats in the Parliament of the Melite, making it a majority government. The Extinction Accelerationist Association and before it, its precedessor the Anime Anarcho-Marxist Union is currently in full control of the Socialist Fgura SAR's institutions, the office of Mayor-President and the three seats of its Regional Council, with the Mayor being the leader of the Party. It lost its seat in Parliament and its only governorate (then a municipial office), after its only MP changed his registration from Anarchist to Independent. The three parties mentioned above are in a coalition government. The former People's Democratic Party of Melite and National Union of Melite held no seats in Parliament, but with a difference from the PDPM, the Chairman of the National Union, Sean Dunkerque was appointed Military Commissar for the Dilu Territory. The PNK and the newly created Zagorian CNP would form an electoral alliance, similar to the German CDU-CSU Alliance.

Logo
Party/Alliance Party Leader Spectrum PoM Seats FRC Seats Governorates
Parties with representation
Alleanza Kristjana Parlamentari ta' Melite
Melitian Christian Parliamentary Alliance
MCPA
Collective Leadership
8 / 10
1 / 2
7 / 9
Partit Nazzjonalista Kristjan

Christian Nationalist Party

CNP / PNK
Matthew T.
7 / 10
1 / 2
6 / 9
ХРИСТИЯНСКАТА НАЦИОНАЛИСТИЧЕСКА ПАРТИЯ ЗА СЕВЕРНА ЗАГОРИЯ

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista Kristjan taż-Żagorja ta' Fuq

Christian Nationalist Party of North Zagoria

CNP-ZA
Simeon Nikolov
1 / 10
0 / 2
1 / 9
Assemblea Demokratika

Democratic Rally

DR
Syncretic
1 / 10
0 / 2
1 / 9
Indipendenti

Independent

IND
N/A
Various
1 / 10
1 / 2
1 / 9
Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Parties without representation
Partit Direzzjonista

Directionist Party

DP
Vincent Paul
0 / 10
0 / 2
0 / 8
Il-Partit Popolari tal-Ħaddiema ta Melite

Melitian People's Workers Party

MPWP
Umberto Kori
0 / 10
0 / 2
0 / 8
Defunct Parties
Party PoM Seats

at max.

FRC Seats

at max.

Mayors

at max.

Assoċjazzjoni għall-Aċċelerazzjonisti tal-Estinzjoni

Extinction Accelerationist Association

EAA / E. Acc Ass.
0 / 10
2 / 2
0 / 8
Melite Now! MN
0 / 10
0 / 2
0 / 8
Partit Popolari ta Melite

Melitian People's Party

MPP
Simeon Nikolov
1 / 16
0 / 2
0 / 8
Żernieq Ġdid

New Dawn

ND Owen Guhrauer
0 / 16
0 / 2
0 / 8
Potato Party[c] PP Eman Chetcuti
20 / 20
NaN
NaN
Butterfly Democratic Independent Party BP Andre Vassallo
Unknown / Satire
2 / 4
NaN
NaN
TT Party TT Arama Vella
Unknown / Satire
2 / 16
0 / 2
0 / 8
Anarchist Party of Melite APM Ted Kaz
1 / 16
2 / 2
0 / 8
L-Unjoni Anarko-Marxista tal-Anime

Anime Anarcho-Marxist Union

AAMU
Xram lrak
0 / 16
2 / 2
0 / 8
National Union NU Sean Dunkerque
0 / 16
0 / 2
0 / 8
People's Democratic Party of Melite PDPM Vidak Jovic
Centre-Left
0 / 16
0 / 2
0 / 8

Elections and referenda

Melite elects on a national level 16 MPs from the seven states (and the former districts in the former Democratic Christian Republic) and Autonomous City to the Melitian Parliament. On a local level, eight Mayors to the Districts and Autonomous City. At the time of writing, only two Parliamentary Elections have been conducted, in 2021 and 2022. Melite uses the first-past-the-post system to elect MPs and Mayors, with rounds used if ties occur. As of writing, only three referenda have been conducted, September 2021, December 2021, and 2022 Referendum. Referenda in Melite took various issues in account, e.g. the December 2021 referendum was about confirming the new national flag, which was approved by 75% of the electorate. No local Elections have been conducted as of writing.

Foreign relations

Melite has one of the most modest presences in the micronational world, with it limiting most of its foreign policy towards Europe and the United States, except for notable exceptions in Asia and Australia. The current Foreign Minister of Melite is H.E. Jayden Dagsa, though the President of Melite has also strong involvement with foreign policy. Melite also expressed interest in and will debut in the 2022 Summer Edition of the TVB Microvision Song Contest. Melite is currently participating in the 2022 MOF Intermicronational Olympic Games.

Organizations

Withdrawn

Macronational location of Micronations Recognized by Melite
  Melite
  Bilateraly Recognized
  Unilaterally Recognized
  Formerly Recognized

International conventions and treaties

Diplomacy

Embassies

De jure
De facto

Recognised Nations

Recognition Refused

Military

Melite has a standing army consisting of a main garrison and a battalion collectively called the National Army of Melite. Their jurisdiction consists of the territories of Melite on the Maltese Islands of Malta and Comino i.e. the States of Melite, and the Socialist Fgura SAR (Fgura Battalion). An overseas battalion for the former Dilu Military Commissariat (Dilu Battalion) also existed. The Fgura battalion is made up of one person. At the time of writing, the NAM has only been put on high alert once, with the Dilu island dispute, and the succeeding Dilu War, in which Melite did not participate militarily, but rather diplomatically. It is good to note that the Military sector was neglected in Melite, until the dispute. The Dilu Battalion was disestablished on 8 June 2022.

Battalions of Melite
Badge Flag Battalion
Dilu Battalion
Fgura Battalion

Conflicts and wars

The government of Melite may not declare war or claim other micronations' territory, but is allowed to defend itself and its allies should the need arise. The only two times that the National Army of Melite was mobilised, or a garrison was put on high alert are the 2021 Basktinstine Crisis and the 2021-2022 Dilu Island dispute respectively. The Dilu Island dispute would later evolve into a the larger Dilu War, though Melite did not intervene nor participate in that conflict. Melite is a signatory member of the Union Against Micronational War.

Conflicts involving Melite
Official Name Date Result
Basktinstinian Crisis 22 September 2021 Stalemate
Dilu Island Dispute 16 - 25 February 2022 Establishment of Melitian Dilu

Media

TVMelite Logo

The Government stays in touch with the people mainly thriough social media, particularly, Twitter and the official Discord server, where most proceedings and governmental updates are given. The Melitian Times is released online on its Website. Melite has its own State Television named TVMelite, which is mostly based on YouTube, and modelled on KCTV. Fgura Radio, managed by residents of the Fgura SAR, was established as a Voice Channel on the Melitian Discord Server, though it has recently gone inactive.

Climate

Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry and punishing. Being on the island of Malta, Melite lies within the subtropical zone, being at 35ºN latitude. As one might expect from Malta's high daylight hours, the island enjoys around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year (also one of the highest in Europe), from an average of above 5 hours of sunshine per day in December to an average of above 12 hours of sunshine per day in July.[8]

Climate data for Melite (in the south-east part of main island, 1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 15.7
(60.3)
15.7
(60.3)
17.4
(63.3)
20.0
(68)
24.2
(75.6)
28.7
(83.7)
31.7
(89.1)
32.0
(89.6)
28.6
(83.5)
25.0
(77)
20.8
(69.4)
17.2
(63)
23.1
(73.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)
12.6
(54.7)
14.1
(57.4)
16.4
(61.5)
20.1
(68.2)
24.2
(75.6)
26.9
(80.4)
27.5
(81.5)
24.9
(76.8)
21.8
(71.2)
17.9
(64.2)
14.5
(58.1)
19.5
(67.1)
Average low °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)
9.5
(49.1)
10.9
(51.6)
12.8
(55)
15.8
(60.4)
19.6
(67.3)
22.1
(71.8)
23.0
(73.4)
21.2
(70.2)
18.4
(65.1)
14.9
(58.8)
11.8
(53.2)
15.9
(60.6)
Average Precipitation mm (inches) 79.3
(3.122)
73.2
(2.882)
45.3
(1.783)
20.7
(0.815)
11.0
(0.433)
6.2
(0.244)
0.2
(0.008)
17.0
(0.669)
60.7
(2.39)
81.8
(3.22)
91.0
(3.583)
93.7
(3.689)
580.7
(22.862)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.0 8.2 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.8 0.0 1.0 4.3 6.6 8.7 10.0 61
Sunshine hours 169.3 178.1 227.2 253.8 309.7 336.9 376.7 352.2 270.0 223.8 195.0 161.2 3,054
Source: Meteo Climate (1991–2020 Data),[9] MaltaWeather.com (Sun data)[10]

Religion

Religion in Melite as of 2022

  Atheism (4.3%)
  Agnosticism (4.3%)
  Christianity (73.7%)
  Islam (4.3%)
  Hinduism (4.3%)

The official religion of Melite is Roman Catholicism and is permanently established, with Melite falling under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Malta. Discrimination on the basis of religion is prohibited and abnormal. There are a variety of religions present in Melite, with one MP being Hindu, and a former relatively unimportant presence of Bobism in Melite, with no activity ever undertaken by the Church of Bob. Christians make up 73.7% of the Melitian population, mostly being Maltese nationals and US citizens. From observances, Melite is very tolerant of other religions, and no fighting or protests has yet erupted over religious issues between citizens.

National awards

Order of the Golden Sun

The Order of the Golden Sun (Maltese: L-Ordni tax-Xemx tad-Deheb) is the only national chivalric decoration of Melite.[11] It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellectual or honorary fields and the recognition of services to the Federation (and the former Republic) and its citizens as a whole.

Former awards

The Order of the Holy Cross, the High Order of Melite and the Friendship Ribbon, were three ribbons that constituted the old awards system of Melite. These all went dormant since 29 December 2021, after Presidential Decree 5/2021 constituting the Order of the Golden Sun went in effect and put these awards in a state of dormancy, with the Order of the Golden Sun replacing all three as the single and sole instituted National Award of Melite.[11]

Awards
Ribbon Name Total granted Reason for grant
Order of the Holy Cross 3 Was granted only on National Holidays to countries that contribute immensely to the micronation.
The High Order of the Democratic Christian Republic of Melite 4 Was given at the discretion of the President, mostly for recognition of Melite.
The Friendship Ribbon of the Democratic Christian Republic of Melite 1 Was granted only on Founding Day to nations collectively.

Holidays

Melite has its own feasts to commemorate Events of the Federation. The list includes religious holidays, civil holidays and commemorative holidays. It is important to note that no holiday in Melite is secular. On Founding Day, a list of recipients of the Order of the Golden Sun is issued by the government to grant citizens and foreign diplomats as gratitude for another year of service. It is unclear whether individual states are allowed to declare holidays in their own jurisdiction.

Date Holiday Name
31 December – 1 January Saint Sylvester, and Gregorian New Year also Catholic feast of Holy Mary, Mother of God
10 February Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Malta
As decided by the Roman Catholic Church. Easter Sunday
9 May Feast of St. George Preca, the only recognized Maltese saint and Victory in the East Day.
1 May St. Joseph the Worker's Day
15 May Our Lady of the Grotto (Rabat)[12]
29 September Founding Day
1 November Day of the Dead
8 December The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
25 December Christmas Day

See also

References

  1. "The Greeks called the island Μελίτη (Melite) meaning “honey-sweet,” possibly due to Malta’s unique production of honey; an endemic species of bee lives on the island, giving it the popular nickname the “land of honey”. The Romans went on to call the island Melita, the romanization of the Greek Μελίτη. The Phoenician name for the islands, meaning “a haven” in reference to Malta’s many bays and coves." Anon, Etymology - Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce, ETYMOLOGY
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jacobs, Tonna, 8 June 2022, 8/2022 A Bill on Federalisation and Vice President of Melite, 2022
  3. Melitian Government, 9 January 2022, 1/2022 District Act
  4. Tonna, 02/2023 On the abandonment of Birmula State
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 Tonna, Dagsa, Government of Melite (3 March 2022) - 7/2022 - On the Unilateral Recognition of States
  6. Tonna (23 March 2022) Amendment 1 to 7/2022
  7. 7.0 7.1 Tonna, Kaz, 20/2022 On the Illegitimacy of the Abela Regime in Malta
  8. "Climate Data for Luqa (Malta)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  9. "Luqa Weather Averages 1991–2020". Meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. "Malta's Climate". Maltaweather.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Melitian Government, (30 December 2021) - "5/2021 On the Order of the Golden Sun"
  12. Melitian Government, 15 May 2022, 11/2022 Establishing Our Lady of the Grotto Holiday

Notes

  1. Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Melite. Melite does not have its own diocese, but remains part of the Roman Catholic (macronational) Archdiocese of Malta, maintaining full communion with the Holy See/Vatican.
  2. Pending abolishment, due to no citizens living physically/locally on the land claim.
  3. Democratic Communist Republic of 11B Period
  4. Invited to join by virtue of North Zagoria state and Castra Lamia Territory, both overseas possessions of Melite found in the Balkans
  5. Melite withdrew from the OEM however it has not yet revoked its ratification of the convention.
  6. Serves also as the Embassy for  Malta
  7. Recognized after Amendment 1 passed by the Parliament