Gaia Grìbhinneach

Geuje Grìbhinneach, or Gaia, is an Easwegian communist public official, serving as the 2nd Alderman of Bear Island since 17 January 2022 and Ministry of Home Affairs since 1 January 2023. They are the chair and founder of Solidarity, a socialist political party. Beginning their career as 4th Directorate of Agriculture and Environment from 2021 to 2022, Gaia has succeeded in transforming the Co-operative Government into a socialist republic. Identifying as non-binary, in 2023 they succeeded in petitioning the Supreme Court to legalise gender-affirming surgery for transgender individuals.

Ministerial head of the Common Security Force, it is alleged that Gaia since 2024 has served as the head of a breakaway government named the Republic of Jan Mayen, which is backed by the Easwegian Government.

Early Political History and Director of Agriculture and Environment

Grìbhinneach created the Solidarity party on 10 July 2021, a libertarian socialist party with the goal of bringing real policies to Easway, with a heavy focus on workers rights and social justice, dedicated to reforming Easway away from its head of state reliance and monarchistic-like titles, towards anarchist ideas, inspired from Peter Kropotkin and Emiliano Zapata.

Grìbhinneach stood in attempt to become the Director for Housing & Community on Bear Island in the July 2021 Director for Housing & Community on Bear Island By-Election on 13 July 2021, coming second with 30.8% of votes to Swapardeshi.

Undeterred, another by-election was called in the July 2021 Director for Agriculture & Environment By-Election on 18 July, which they won during a run-off vote against Homofascist candidate Archiennè with 58% of votes to 42%.

Grìbhinneach originally ran as the leader of the party Solidarity when becoming the Director of Agriculture & Environment for Bear Island. The former holder of the seat, Etchaczech had endorsed them and their party to bring a counterbalance with more egalitarian left wing values to what was seen as an increasingly authoritarian and right wing political environment. Indeed Grìbhinneach throughout their tenure saw the shift of Easway towards the left, including when Etchasketch took hold of the Mutualist Ouroboros Party (defecting back from Solidarity) to oppose the then Homofascist Party of Easway and the National Republican Party of Easway, which were for a brief period in coalition with each other.

Grìbhinneach, who was described by Eix - Easway broadcaster as 'Easway's most progressive politician', often ran into conflict for their radical republican and anarcho-communist views. During this period Easway's political direction was largely incongruent and fell under the strong-arm of Chief Councillor Emizerri, then styled by the people as Emperor. His leadership at this stage was backed by the trade union heads of a socially capitalist economy, alongside the National Directorate, nominally independent but acting as a cabinet for the Chief Councillor as chief of state. Grìbhinneach, whilst respecting Emizerri, criticised the political set up of Easway as vulnerable to exploitation. They highlighted three areas that Easway must radically change: one, Easway must complete its independence by becoming fully republican, therefore the leader adopting a new title other than Emperor and reducing their powers over constitutional referendums; two, the National Directorate should be strengthened and become more independent; and three, Easway must transform into a socialist system. Emizerri at this period in time ideologically opposed all three demands, and utilised his support from the Easwegian National Guard, then led by Grand Marshal Kasimo Meroi, the HPE-MOP political parties, and the people's overwhelming support of Emizerri as Paramount Founder of the Easwegian Nation, to reject the proposals outright. Grìbhinneach grew more frustrated at a public session of the national assembly on 6 August 2021, leading to a very public and heated debate on the validity of Easway's democracy. Grìbhinneach accused Emizerri of misrepresenting their republican views and of being an overbearing leader. Grìbhinneach furthermore proposed that a fully unitary parliamentary system be implemented. Emizerri hit back claiming that he had the clear mandate and support of the people, if he doesn't agree with something he doesn't have to support its implementation just because Grìbhinneach said as such, and that if Grìbhinneach's behaviour is what their flavour of republicanism entails, then how can he or the nation be expected to support it. The debate ended with Grìbhinneach's resignation from the Government.

Coming back as Director on 3 September 2021, it was noted that both Grìbhinneach and the rest of the political scene softened from this period onwards and from a historical perspective this is largely classified as when Easway slowly became more left wing. Grìbhinneach succesfully passed the Easwegian Anti-Extremism Act in September, which successfully constitutionally outlawed fascism and despotism in the nation. They set up the Republican People's Party of Easway (RPPE) in October, which not only advocated for radical republicanism and the adoption of a new chief of state title, but also became the first party in Easway to officially adopt a pro expansionist policy, wishing for the reclamation of the Biarmian Displaced Territory. The recognition of this goal by Easway itself would be realised on 31 January 2024, when the Government of Easway established claims to the region, long after the RPPE ceased to exist.

Gaia Grìbhinneach's term during 2021 focused on using their public position to reach out to the public and attempt to get them used to progressive and radical governing forms. Grìbhinneach entirely rejected political reform and instead advocated a systemic and cultural revolution. The implementation of the Seven Masts to the Constitution of Easway proved a political breakthrough for Grìbhinneach, with the economy switching from a socially democratic one to a market socialist one.

As Alderman of Bear Island

First Term

Gaia became the second Alderman of Bear Island unopposed on the 17th January 2022, following an addendum to the twentieth amendment the previous day, which brought the head of island region (now Commonwealth) position back. This was a political victory for Solidarity, giving socialism a seat in the highest executive affairs of the nation.

Second Term

Gaia was re-elected as Alderman on Bear Island, taking their seat on 1 January 2023. Their successful previous term and perceived success in transforming Easway's political system had gained Solidarity status as the second largest party. Gaia gained the ministerial position of Home Affairs, following mutually agreed upon reorganisation.

In their second term, they campaigned with Emizerri to pass the Common Development Plan and pass the Forty Eighth Referendum on a Common(s) Union of Easway, which changed Easway's official name on the 31st January from the Realm of Easway to the Common Union of Easway, also known as the Easwegian Common Union. (ECU)

Personal & Political Life

Grìbhinneach identifies as non-binary. Their pronouns are they/them. They are a member of the Easwegian Confederation of Workers.

Gaia is first and foremost a libertarian socialist who believes in a decentralised and socially just confederal society, based on worker, LGBTQ+ and gender equality rights. They are a believer in the theory of intersectionalism as a model for solving and overcoming barriers of injustice in order to create an equitable society. Common observation places Gaia alongside other internationalists, socialists and anarchists, and trade unionists. Opponents have referred to Gaia as far-left, which they embrace, quoted as saying "Yes, I am a communist, you can't get much more far left than that."

Gaia was awarded the Baron's medal by the Emizerri on 13 September 2021 with the Chief Councillor's appraisal for their help on making an offshoot page for Easway on a microwiki website. They were further awarded the distinguished Elder's Medal on the 11th April 2023 for "their services to Easway, their consistent efforts in aiding in the creation of better access to information for the Easwegian people, development of good governance and long-time devotion to the common people." and on the 12th April were invited to the founding Meizcherni-Zerri Family as an extended member.