Potengi
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Democratic Republic of Potengi República Democrática do Potengi | |
|---|---|
Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: "Trabalhadores do mundo, uni-vos!" "Workers of the world, unite! | |
| Capital and largest city | Rio Grande 05°47′S 35°12′W / 5.783°S 35.200°W |
| Official languages | Portuguese |
| Demonym(s) | Potiguar |
| Government | One-party unitary parliamentary socialist state |
| Quintino Praxedes Cortês | |
| Legislature | Popular House |
| Independence from the Federative Republic of Brazil | |
• Foundation | 26 May 2024 |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 10 |
| HDI (2021) | ▲ 0.763 high · 85th |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +55 |
| Internet TLD | .pt |
Potengi, officially the Democratic Republic of Potengi, is a self-declared unrecognized state traditionally characterized as a micronation. It is an enclave in the Brazilian city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, bordering Brazil, Quinta Velha and the United Provinces of Mauritia. It claims as its territory the André de Albuquerque Square, popularly known as Red Square. It is a one-party unitary parliamentary socialist state, whose governing party is the Potiguar Unified Socialist Party. The capital and largest city is Rio Grande. The estimated population is 10 inhabitants.
Founded in the heart of the city of Natal, capital of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, the Democratic Republic of Potengi was created after several debates and conversations between communist and socialist thinkers, academics and artists from Rio Grande do Norte who, understanding the occupation and intervention in public spaces, urban communities as a form of revolution and awareness, claimed a traditional city square, a well-known stronghold of bohemian and counterculture in the region. Inspired by the experience of the German Democratic Republic and the Republic of Cuba, Potengi is characterized by its defense of South American integration, the fight for the proletarian revolution, the restoration and defense of the state's historical-cultural heritage. Potengi declares itself as heir to the efforts and achievements of the Brazilian communist uprising of 1935, which took place in Natal and other cities in Brazil.
With a Marxist-Leninist orientation, the Potiguar Unified Socialist Party is Potengi's vanguard party. It is the single party of the Republic and its general secretary is also the President of the Republic, who serves as the country's head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister, elected from among the parliamentarians of the Popular House ("Casa Popular", in Portuguese) who, in turn, must be members of the PSUP, obligatorily.
Etymology
The term Potengi originates from the Tupi language and means "river of shrimp", through the combination of the terms potĩ ("shrimp") and y ("water"). The name was inspired by the proximity of the micronation's territory to the Potenji River.
National symbols
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Coat of arms
History
Background
The region that would eventually become Natal and, per instance, the Democratic Republic of Potengi, has a rich history. Visited by European explorers such as Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci in the late 15th century, the area was initially explored by the French in search of Brazilwood in the 16th century. The Portuguese established Natal in 1599, building the Three Wise Men fortress to protect the area. During the following centuries, the region experienced periods of occupation by the Dutch and saw economic development with cattle ranching and salt and oil exploration. During World War II, Natal hosted an important American air base, highlighting its strategic position. Currently, Natal is a significant tourist destination in Brazil, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage.
It was common, due the colonization of the territory by the Portuguese, that cities derived their establishment with the creation of a local parish, a jail, the gallows, the pillory, the town hall and the main square that bound all this buildings. The Matriz Square was founded to be the zero milestone which from 1888 onwards, renamed as André de Albuquerque Square, would eventually become the Democractic Republic of Potengi.
Pater Patriae
André de Albuquerque Maranhão, direct descendant of Jerónimo de Albuquerque, was a colonel and rural landowner from Rio Grande do Norte that stood out for being a defender of republican causes, actively participating in republican conspiracies and revolts that took place in the Northeast of Brazil. He participated in the Conspiracy of Suassuna in 1801 and in the Pernambucan revolt of 1817. On 28 March 1817, he took power over the captaincy of Rio Grande, establishing a provisional republican government, with himself as President.
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For setting up a government that was not in line with revolutionary ideas and for not having done anything administratively for the captaincy and, after losing Paraíba's military support, on 25 April 1817, André suffered a counter-coup led by the military personnel allied with the monarchical government, was injured by sword blows and thrown out of the window of the government palace. He was imprisoned in Three Wise Men fortress, where he bled to death. Before being buried in the Old Our Lady of the Presentation Cathedral, he suffered public humiliation in what was then the Matriz Square. From then on, the Square became popularly known as “Red Square”, due to the blood of the revolutionary who had stained that place.
In 1888, with the growth of republican ideals in Brazil and anticipating the political events that occurred the following year, the square was renamed from Matriz Square to André de Albuquerque Square. In 1917, already under republican government, the obelisk in honor of the Potiguar revolutionaries of 1817 was inaugurated in the square.
Contemporary history
In 2024, conversations between a group of friends, including musicians, writers, doctors, artists and teachers, dissatisfied with the incompetence of the public administration in Natal and the decay of the André de Albuquerque Square and surroundings, as well as with the political directions taken by the Brazilian left, decide proclaim the Democratic Republic of Potengi. Inspired by Marxist-Leninist ideals and by socialist experiences that existed and exist in History, such as East Germany, Cuba and the People's Republic of China, but with a very particular structure.
Geography
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The Republic of Potengi is located in the extreme east of South America and lies on the banks of the Atlantic ocean, at the mouth of the Potengi River and its location is considered strategic due to its proximity to Europe, Africa and Central and North America. It is an enclave in the Brazilian city of Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte. Not far from Potengi, the relief consists of coastal plains with a vast presence of dunes. There is also a considerable presence of mangroves. The country's main river is the Potenji River. The vegetation cover is formed by the Atlantic forest, with constant preservation points. It also has a rich diversity in its fauna and flora, made up of different species of animals and plants.
Climate
It has a typical tropical climate, specifically a wet and dry tropical climate (Köppen climate classification: As), with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. However, these conditions are mitigated by the near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. February is the hottest month, with average highs of 31°C or 87.8°F and lows of 24°C or 75.2°F, while July is the coldest with average highs of 28°C or 82.4°F. °F and lows of 21 °C. or 69.8°F. Rainfall is intense, around 1,720 millimeters (68 inches) per year, but there is a dry season between September and January that is more distinct than further south on the Atlantic coast. The greatest amount of rain falls between March and July.
| Climate data for Rio Grande, Democratic Republic of Potengi (2024–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.4 (92.1) |
36.8 (98.2) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.2 (90) |
30.8 (87.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.8 (89.2) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
36.8 (98.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30.4 (86.7) |
30.7 (87.3) |
30.7 (87.3) |
30.3 (86.5) |
29.8 (85.6) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.0 (86) |
30.4 (86.7) |
29.7 (85.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.4 (81.3) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.2 (81) |
26.6 (79.9) |
25.4 (77.7) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.0 (77) |
25.8 (78.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.4 (81.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) |
24.6 (76.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.7 (74.7) |
23.1 (73.6) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
22.2 (72) |
23.5 (74.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.9 (64.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.1 (61) |
15.4 (59.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
17.3 (63.1) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
| Average Rainfall mm (inches) | 80.7 (3.177) |
99.8 (3.929) |
200.8 (7.906) |
240.5 (9.469) |
221.8 (8.732) |
348.8 (13.732) |
254.0 (10) |
118.7 (4.673) |
54.0 (2.126) |
20.6 (0.811) |
22.5 (0.886) |
29.0 (1.142) |
1,691.2 (66.583) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79.1 | 79.2 | 80.6 | 82.4 | 82.8 | 84.5 | 82.9 | 80.7 | 79.6 | 77.8 | 77.8 | 78.3 | 80.5 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 7 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 127 |
| Sunshine hours | 256.2 | 228.4 | 241.0 | 218.0 | 232.6 | 199.3 | 215.6 | 253.9 | 267.2 | 295.2 | 285.9 | 286.5 | 2,979.8 |
| Source: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia | |||||||||||||
Demographics
The Republic of Potengi has 10 citizens, but this number increases considerably due to the free transit agreement between Potengi and Brazil, which ends up ensuring that many Brazilians use Potengi's infrastructure, causing the country's demographic density to increase at peak times.
Government and politics
Potengi is a one-party unitary parliamentary socialist state. The official party is the Unified Socialist Potiguar Party ("Partido Socialista Unificado Potiguar" in Portguuese) and, to run for any political position in the country, membership in the PSUP is mandatory. The parliament, called Popular House ("Casa Popular", in Portuguese), operates under a system of direct democracy, where all naturalized citizens have the right to participate in activities, as long as they are duly affiliated with the PSUP.
The Secretary General of the PSUP also acts as the head of government of the Republic under the position of Secretary General. Parliament elects the President of the Republic from among its members, who assists the government in conducting foreign policy and other executive activities.
Foreign relations
The Republic of Potengi is one of three micronations in Rio Grande do Norte, alongside Quinta Velha and the United Provinces of Mauritia. Despite criticism and disagreements from a political point of view, due to their respective government systems, Potengi maintains friendly and collaborative relations with Quinta Velha. Countries maintain agreements in different areas and help each other. Potengi is also one of the founding states of the Federated Socialist States of Pindorama, alongside Maragógui and Iandê and have close relations with these two micronations.
Administrative regions
There is only a small administrative division in the territory of Potengi, which forms its capital, Rio Grande. As it is a unitary state, Potengi does not have many divisions in its territory and the creation or extinction of administrative units is the prerogative of the National Government.
Culture
The culture of Potengi is closely influenced by the culture of Natal and also of Rio Grande do Norte. The typical dish is couscous with sun-dried meat, but there is also a strong presence of seafood in the national cuisine. Tapioca has a large presence on the plates of Potiguares, as does cassava. Traditional cakes are widely consumed, such as the lady cake, potato cake, cassava cake and corn cake.
With a bohemian tradition, Potengi is also linked to counter-culture and urban arts. Urban sports championships frequently take place in its territory, such as skateboarding, BMX and inline skating. Urban dance battles and rap and hip hop rhymes are also frequent in Potengi territory. During Carnival, the country hosts one of the most traditional festivals in the region, as well as promoting and hosting June festivities and end-of-year festivities.
The country's main holiday is 01 May, Labor Day. Another very important date is the foundation day. A traditional holiday is also the day of revolutionary memory, which commemorates the seizure of power by the communists in the city of Natal, in the event known as “Communist Intentona”. It is also common to commemorate traditional communist revolutions that occurred in history, such as the Cuban Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution, but without the weight of a holiday.