Greater Watford

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Republic of Greater Watford
Greater Watford
Gw flag 3.png
General
Capital Watford
Population 5,500,000
Language English
Demonym Greater Watfordian
Government
Government Form Republic
Head of Government President Andrew Lawrence
Other information
Location Atlantian Oceania
WA Member Yes
Date of Unification July 1 0U
Currency GW Pound
Drives on the Left
Internet tld .gw (.gwa also used)
Map of Greater Watford

The Republic of Greater Watford is a nation in the region of Atlantian Oceania. It is well known for being a left-wing socialist republic, with a high tax rate, although personal and political freedoms are high, and valued by its citizens.

History

Before 100BU

The earliest known settlements in Greater Watford come from around 493BU. The exact dates are hard to determine, due to a primitive dating system at the time. The earliest settlements are based around the coast, near modern day Watford. A few other settlements appeared, most notably the historic settlement of Verulam. The famous City Hall, built in 466BU by Alban of Verulam, is one of the famous tourists attractions of Greater Watford. The island originally had the name Hertfordia, which was commonplace up to around 135BU. By them, Watford was the largest city in Hertfordia, with a collection of villages popping up outside of it, along with the construction of connecting roads.

It is believed, although not conclusively proven, that the settlement of Verulam was established by a community of elite traders and merchants who objected to the initial creation of a Senate in the town of Watford. They sailed around the island of Hertfordia, before settling in Verulam, modern day St Albans. This also explains the cultural differences between the Northern and Western sides of the island, to the Southern and Eastern sides of the island, as the founders of subsequent cities are descendants of Verulam and Watford respectively.

100BU-23BU

In the year 99BU, Watford formalised an alliance with neighbouring city states, establishing The Union of Greater Watford. The Union promoted several key ideas, such as unified rules on trading, commerce and taxation. However, it's left-wing ideas didn't gain any popularity in the major cities of St Albans and Hemel Hempstead, who remained independent from the union.

The Union expanded up to it's maximum in 28BU. By that time, the majority of the southern and eastern cities were part of the union, along with the villages in the hills. The main objectors were still St Albans and Hemel Hempstead, along with the cities of Elstree, Shenley (although not Boreham Wood). Unfortunately, this proved to be the undoing of the union, as the boom in Hemel Hempstead lead to a loss of confidence, and more cities returning to independent states.

23BU-0U

In the year 23BU, the old Union was dissolved. Instead, it was replaced the the Confederate Cities of Greater Watford. This promised to work towards a national unity and identity. Unfortunately, with the initial government headed mainly by Socialists, the right-wing cities of Hemel Hempstead and St Albans objected, and remained as fiercely independent city-states, along with their minor outlying cities. Nevertheless, they voluntarily adopted a few rules of the CCGW.

The catalyst for change came in 10BU. Marlowes, the major commerce city off of Hemel Hempstead, left the city-state of Hemel, and agreed to join the CCGW. The shock of Hemel Hempstead losing it's local ally lead to a crash in local finances. With the CCGW already suffering from a poor economy, Hemel Hempstead, and to a degree, St Albans were loooking for support, no longer able to support their independence. In 8BU, St Albans' mayor agreed to renounce the claims of St Albans and it's outer territories as an independent state, and joined the CCGW. Finally in 5BU, Hemel Hempstead accepted the CCGW's terms, and joined.

In 1BU, the election to the CCGW Parliament saw Andrew Lawrence become the leader of the House. The Socialist Party, who had been elected, formalised an agreement to create a new state, the Republic of Greater Watford, and the Unification Paper was signed by all 500 members. The date for unification was set using the new dating system, of July 1st, 0U. On that date, celebrations broke out on the street, as there was finally a unified state on the island of Hertfordia

0U to present day

In the election of 1AU, the Socialist Party comfortably won. President Andrew Lawrence established stronger regional links with Atlantian Oceania. The economy of Greater Watford boomed, and is now considered very high, with a high level of wealth equality.

Politics

Citizens in Greater Watford elect a national parliament and president on even numbered years, and a local council on odd numbered years. In the national elections, the PR system is used. Whilst presidential elections are separate to the parliament elections, both occur simultaneously, and the president is considered 1 MP of his party. There are 500 seats in the Greater Watford Parliament, elected using PR (with the aforementioned exception of the President). The President is elected by popular vote, with the candidate that receives the most votes winning the election. Local councils are elected using PR, with the mayor elected using the FPTP System. The legal voting age is 18. Voting is not compulsory, but encouraged as part of the Greater Watfordian culture.