The Third Republic of Nordengrund is a nation located somewhere in Northern Europe. It is somewhat unusual as the majority of Nords are a mix of Scandinavian (primarily Norwegian) and German. It is a secular nation with a healthy democratic government, though unlike many of its neighbors, the ruling party are laissez-faire capitalists rather than being advocates of Nordic democracy or social democracy. Also, Nordengrund's head of state, the President, has some executive authority, with the chancellor subservient to him since Nordegnrund chose to adopt a semi-presidential system.
The nation and its people have come a long way in terms of progress. While pretty skeptical of many government run programs and welfare, it has done a complete 180 on social issues and religiosity. The infamous Second Republic was a dictatorial regime disguised as a democracy. The Chancellor was a lot more powerful and ruled as a "benevolent" (in the eyes of some Nordians) dictator, though this is no longer a commonly held view among them in retrospect. It was a one party state ruled by the National Alliance, a formerly centrist party that was hijacked by extreme social conservatives briefly after the founding of the Second Republic. While homosexuals and women who had abortions were the primary targets of discrimination if not outright persecution, the government was pretty tolerant of different religions (even extending tolerance to Atheists) and did not espouse much patriotism or nationalism. People's lives were pretty much left alone in the privacy of their homes and respected privacy, so they only had to fear how they acted in public, and in the economic sphere, people were free to do as they please as the Chancellor and his party were strong supporters of laissez-faire capitalism.
Many of the extreme views of the Second Republic were carried over from the Old Reich, where Kaiser Otto von Wolfgang II ruled as an absolute monarch and had similar views on social issues, government, and religion, but was skeptical of both capitalism and socialism. He was overthrown in a civil war, with the victorious rebels founding the Second Republic. The Kaiser was sentenced for life in a maximum security prison and remains there to this day.
As for the Second Republic, it only had two leaders in succession before it collapsed. Chancellor Archibald von Liechtenstein began to soften up on a lot of what he was opposed to. First he decriminalized homosexuality to where it was still illegal, but unenforced, but eventually legalized to the point where people could "come out of the closet" without fear of persecution and all people serving time in prison for their sexual orientation were immediately released upon the ratification of his decree. However, same sex marriage and abortions were still illegal. This angered his cabinet, who believed he betrayed their ideology, the government, and the nation, so they assassinated him, and repealed his reforms on homosexuality. This enraged citizens, who demanded the cabinet step down or face another civil war. The military sided with the citizens and arrested the cabinet members, though some were killed when they attempted to attack soldiers, and one committed suicide, they others were sent to prison.
Nordengrund split into various smaller countries, without a central government at all, but was eventually reunited under the Third Republic as they all signed the new constitution, making them all apart of a new country. This new government turned away from the border-line theocratic elements of the old government, and made the government officially secular, extending full equal rights to women, abolished the death penalty, and legalized same sex marriage and abortions, but they're still pretty right wing economically.
There has been talk about whether or not Nordengrund should become a constitutional monarchy rather than remain as a republic. The Kaiser would serve as a ceremonial head of state, with a chancellor as the head of government. Even though Otto von Wolfgang II is in prison, some advocates of the monarchy have suggested that he be released as long as he does not have any executive authority at all, while other propose that one his nephews should become Kaiser, instead.
A referendum is being held in Nordengrund, and our government has reached out to the international community to hear their thoughts.
