Democratic Christian Federation of Melite
Democratic Christian Federation of Melite Il-Federazzjoni Demokratika Kristjana ta Melite (Maltese) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Motto: "Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat!" (Latin) "Christ Wins, Christs Rules, Christ Conquers!" | |||||||||
Anthem: National Anthem of Melite Presidential Anthem: Giovinezza | |||||||||
Status | Active | ||||||||
Location | Mediterranean Sea | ||||||||
Capital | Dominica Autonomous City | ||||||||
Largest State | Comino | ||||||||
Official languages | English Maltese | ||||||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism (official[a]) | ||||||||
Demonym(s) | Melitian | ||||||||
Government | Communist Republic (2019 – 2021) Republic (2021 – June 2022) Federal republic (June 2022 –) Details
| ||||||||
Matthew T. (PNK) | |||||||||
Simeon Nikolov (ZA-CNP) | |||||||||
• Premier | Jayden Dagsa (PNK) | ||||||||
Matthew Vella (PNK) | |||||||||
Ted Kaz (PNK) | |||||||||
Legislature | In Melite: Parliament of Melite | ||||||||
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) | ||||||||
Currency | Tonna bucks Euro (TB/€) | ||||||||
Time zone | UTC-1 (CET) | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC-2 (CET+1) | ||||||||
Date format | dd/mm/yy | ||||||||
Calling code | +356 | ||||||||
IMSO 1 code | MLT | ||||||||
|
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 | CNP / PNK
|
Matthew T.
|
7 / 10
|
1 / 2
|
6 / 9
| ||||
ХРИСТИЯНСКАТА НАЦИОНАЛИСТИЧЕСКА ПАРТИЯ ЗА СЕВЕРНА ЗАГОРИЯ | CNP-ZA
|
Simeon Nikolov
|
1 / 10
|
0 / 2
|
1 / 9
| ||||
Assemblea Demokratika | 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 | DP | Vincent Paul
|
0 / 10
|
0 / 2
|
0 / 8
| ||||
Il-Partit Popolari tal-Ħaddiema ta Melite | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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
- See also: Foreign relations of Melite
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
- Union Against Micronational War after 55% of the electorate voted to leave in the 2022 Melitian referendum
International conventions and treaties
- Montediszamble Convention on Freedom of Expression, Civility and Copyright Protection in Micronationalism
- Libertas Convention (on membership in the League of Independent Nations)
- The Hamburg Convention (on membership in the Organization of European Micronations)[e]
- / Treaty of Dominica (on the status of formerYeLand, now Fgura)
Diplomacy
Embassies
De jure
De facto
Recognised Nations
- Republic of China[5]
- Republic of Cyprus[5]
- Donetsk People's Republic[5]
- Commonwealth of Dracul[5]
- Kingdom of Ela'r'oech[5]
- State of Faltree[6][g]
- United Phoenix Empire of Haskaria[5]
- Empire of Huai Siao[5]
- Republic of Korea[5]
- Lugansk People's Republic[5]
- Empire of Meritia[5]
- Monmarkian Empire[5]
- State of Norton[5]
- Kingdom of Queensland[5]
- Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania[5]
- Kingdom of Scynja[5]
- Republic of Serbia
- Kingdom of Vestebrük[5]
- Republica Yara[5]
Recognition Refused
- Republic of Malta[7]
- Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan[5]
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan[5]
- Republic of Azerbaijan[5]
- People's Republic of China[5]
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea[5]
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia[5]
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus[5]
- Republic of Turkey[5]
- Republic of Kosovo
- European Union[7]
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.
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.
Official Name | Date | Result |
---|---|---|
Basktinstinian Crisis | 22 September 2021 | Stalemate |
Dilu Island Dispute | 16 - 25 February 2022 | Establishment of Melitian Dilu |
Media
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
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]
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
- ↑ "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
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jacobs, Tonna, 8 June 2022, 8/2022 A Bill on Federalisation and Vice President of Melite, 2022
- ↑ Melitian Government, 9 January 2022, 1/2022 District Act
- ↑ Tonna, 02/2023 On the abandonment of Birmula State
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Tonna (23 March 2022) Amendment 1 to 7/2022
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tonna, Kaz, 20/2022 On the Illegitimacy of the Abela Regime in Malta
- ↑ "Climate Data for Luqa (Malta)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ↑ "Luqa Weather Averages 1991–2020". Meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ↑ "Malta's Climate". Maltaweather.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Melitian Government, (30 December 2021) - "5/2021 On the Order of the Golden Sun"
- ↑ Melitian Government, 15 May 2022, 11/2022 Establishing Our Lady of the Grotto Holiday
Notes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Pending abolishment, due to no citizens living physically/locally on the land claim.
- ↑ Democratic Communist Republic of 11B Period
- ↑ Invited to join by virtue of North Zagoria state and Castra Lamia Territory, both overseas possessions of Melite found in the Balkans
- ↑ Melite withdrew from the OEM however it has not yet revoked its ratification of the convention.
- ↑ Serves also as the Embassy for Malta
- ↑ Recognized after Amendment 1 passed by the Parliament