Characters / Red World Europe

Character Index | Africa (North Africa) | Americas (USA) | Asia (Middle East | South Asia | Oceania) | Europe (British Isles | Italy | Balkans | Soviet Union)

Iberia (Cola Wars Update)

Upcoming content coming with the "Cola Wars" update.(Note: Portugal Excluded)

Spain

Official Name: Kingdom of Spain, Spanish State (Fascist/National Bolshevik), Spanish Socialist Republic (Revolutionary Socialist), Spanish Democratic Republic (Communist)

Ruling Party: House of Bourbon-Anjou

Ideology: Absolute Monarchy^note Monarchism

Spain is an Absolute Monarchy under king Juan Carlos, having reversed the democratic process after the Spanish Crisis. The country is still under martial law. It is one of the most powerful monarchist nations at the start of the game.Portugal had fallen to a socialist revolution 3 years before and the Soviet Union was more powerful and popular than ever in many countries. King Juan Carlos took power after Franco's death and initially established democracy. There was a national election and everything seemed to be running smoothly, until rumours of a communist coup in the capital came along, as well as rumours of a swift Portuguese invasion with the help of South American socialist countries and even some disillusioned communist onesAt the time the King was worried but not worried enough to halt the democratic process, until a decorated general in the USA revealed secret documents to the UN that illustrated President Ashbrook's personal plan to invade Spain and restore the remnants of the Francoist dictatorship in order to "save Spain" from the communists and socialists. Upon hearing this the King dissolved the parliament and declared martial law (which is still continuing to this day).

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• Balkanize Me: It is possible for players to release several new nations if they conquer Spain, including Catalonia ,the Basque Country and Galicia

King Juan Carlos I

Role: Head of State

Party: House of Bourbon-Anjou

Ideology: Absolute Monarchy^note Monarchism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} King Juan Carlos I has ruled as the sovereign king of Spain since the death of Caudillo Francisco Franco in 1975, having been groomed for leadership by the dictator since his youth. The King’s education was largely entrusted to Fernández Miranda, who served as head of government following the assassination of Franco’s right hand man, Luis Carrero Blanco. Miranda guided the King in a more liberal direction, and, shortly after Juan Carlos began his reign, attempts were made to begin a transition to democracy, with both the People’s Alliance and the Socialist Workers’ Party being formally recognized by the state. However, this transition was not meant to be. In 1976, it was revealed that the United States government had been considering invading Spain to prevent a socialist party from winning the imminent elections. This crisis drove Juan Carlos to invoke his emergency powers, dissolving parliament and taking absolute power for himself. While the Francoist constitution remains, Juan Carlos has purged the FET y de las JONS, opting instead to mold the People’s Party into his own loyalist organization. It is from the ranks of the People’s Party and the military that Juan Carlos has selected the bulk of his appointed officials. While Juan Carlos’ leadership has kept the country afloat, it remains plagued by overbearing military political influence, regionalist divides, a crumbling economy, and other ailments. The King’s advanced age has sparked concern over his son’s ability to meet these challenges, and many worry that Spain will not survive without his firm guidance.

The ruling monarch of Spain, who took absolute power after he discovered a failed coup against him received the support of the United States.

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• Emergency Authority: Juan Carlos I took absolute power following a failed coup backed by the United States and Portugal's fall to revolutionary socialism.
• Properly Paranoid: Spain is surrounded by potential enemies, with the Soviets dominating most of Europe, and revolutionary socialism taking power in Portugal. Even their former ally the United States attempted to form a coup to secure who they believed would be a stronger leader. As a result, Juan Carlos I has dissolved parliament permanently, and runs Spain as an Absolute Monarchy under an Isolationist platform, out of fear of invasion or outside influence.
• Short-Lived Leadership: Shortly into 2010 Juan Carlos suffers a heartattack and passes away, leaving Spain in the hands of his son Felipe

Portugal

Official Name: Portuguese Republic, Portuguese Socialist Republic (Communist), Kingdom of Portugal (Monarchist)

Ruling Party: Carnation League

Ideology: Otelism^note Revolutionary Socialism

Unlike most of Western Europe, who fell under the influence of the Soviet Union and adopted Soviet communism, Portugal's revolution resulted in a revolutionary socialist government opposed to the Warsaw Pact.

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Gil Garcia

Role: Head of State

Party: Carnation League

Ideology: Otelism^note Revolutionary Socialism

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Western Europe

France

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Official Name: French Socialist State, French Commune (Revolutionary Socialism), French Republic (Democratic/Nationalist), Kingdom of France (Monarchist), French State (Fascist)

Ruling Party: French Communist Party - Loyalists

Ideology: Neocommunism^note Communism

While France still boasts an army worth fearing, it is not one of the most economically stable nations. Their alliance with Europe and the Warsaw Pact lies in danger if these economic problems are not solved soon.

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• Butt-Monkey: France is the most politically unstable member of the Warsaw Pact and its economy has drastically fallen behind its peers like Germany.
• Crapsaccharine World: At the start of the game, the French economy has fallen behind its European neighbors as a result of various economic crises, the messy transition to a planned economy, and intense disputes with the French labor unions. These 30 years, known commonly as the "Trente Piteuses" ^note Thirty Piteous , have led to immense social unrest and major issues for the French government.
• How the Mighty Have Fallen: From being one of the biggest empires in the world and the victor of two World Wars, RW France is a shell of its former self with its colonial empire being long gone and its economy drastically falling behind its communist peers
• Short-Lived Leadership: Since the resignation of General Secretary Maxime Gremetz in 2000, leadership of the PCF has changed every year until the ascension of Mélenchon in 2006. Time will tell if he will follow the same trend.
• History Repeats: For over a decade, France has been plagued by domestic unrest and public demonstrations demanding reform, liberty, and material improvements. With protestors taking to the streets nearly every year, some are fearing the protests could escalate into another French Revolution.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Role: Head of State

Party: French Communist Party - Loyalists

Ideology: Neocommunism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} As a vocal young member of the Socialist Party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon was one of the early advocates of a union between the PS and the French Communist Party. When Georges Marchais was elected president in 1985 Mélenchon was quick to call for a special congress where the PS ultimately decided to merge with the triumphant PCF. His efforts were recognized by the party leadership with a position in the National Council. As a voice of the party’s moderates Mélenchon came under heavy pressure during the rule of General Secretary Maxime Gremetz, who led a vicious anti-union campaign to stabilize France’s faltering economy. But Mélenchon could not be coerced, demoted or marginalized. As protests swept the nation during the spring of 2000 he was the first official to openly call for the general secretary’s resignation, but he was soon joined by many others. Aiding in the fall of one of Western Europe’s most brutal leaders helped catapult him to national prominence, even as France entered a new era of political instability. New general secretaries came and went every other year, and Mélenchon established himself as a unifying figure. He was elected general secretary in 2006 on a broad program of reform. His government has carried out sweeping changes to the French political system, opening up the party, loosening restrictions on trade unions and removing many old guard politicians from power. But unrest is growing, both in the party and the public at large, and if Mélenchon is reckless he could find himself in the same position as the dictator he once helped topple.

The current President of the French Socialist State. As a result of the dire economic situation, his popularity with the French people has suffered greatly.

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• Reconcile the Bitter Foes: Mélenchon was an early advocate for a union between the Socialist Party and the French Communist Party. This dream would become a reality as the parties voted to merge in 1985 during a special congress called by Mélenchon himself.
• Internal Reformist: As a member of the PCF Mélenchon has been seen as a voice of the moderates within the party and a strong critic of General Secretary Maxime Gremetz's authoritarian policies. Mélenchon would later ascend to the same position himself on a campaign of reform. Since then his government has been notable for opening up the PCF and removing old guard politicians from seats of power.
  • This can also be seen from the perspective of the Warsaw Pact with Mélenchon having the Neocommunist sub-ideology in-game, which is described as a more moderate form of communism in comparison to its Soviet counterpart.
• Determinator: Even though Mélenchon was under heavy political pressure from General Secretary Maxime Gremetz due to the former's advocacy for moderation, Mélenchon would not allow himself to be pushed out of politics and eventually rose to become General Secretary himself.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: As General Secretaries came and went following the resignation of Maxime Gremetz, Mélenchon became a unifying figure within French politics, primarily thanks to his involvement in Gremetz's resignation in the first place.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: In OTL Jean-Luc Mélenchon is known for being the leader of the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise and ending up in third place in the 2022 French Presidential elections. Contrary to his OTL counterpart, RW Mélenchon succeded in becoming the leader of France and also seems to have avoided his turn towards anti-semitism

Francois Hollande

Role: European Union President

The Current EU President is not much liked in Italy.

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• Historical Downgrade: Hollande is never seen throughout Red World, instead being a simple background character. Eventually, he is assassinated during a state visit to Brussels.

Charles Fiterman

Role: Head of State (Released by a Revolutionary Socialist country)

Party: French Communist Party - Unionists

Ideology: Revolutionary Socialism

A member of the Communist Party, he is not quite as left as the President.

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• Internal Reformist: Fiterman's ideology has no love of the Soviets, seeing them as authoritarian and causing the economic mess France is currently in. He wants to shift the country away from Soviet communism into a model closely resembling Noam Chomsky's Commonwealth.

Henri Emmanuelli

Role: Head of State (Released by a Moderate Socialist country)

Party: Socialist Radicals

Ideology: Democratic Socialism^note Moderate Socialism

Leader of the Socialist Radical party looks for major reform

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Emmanuel Macron

Role: Head of State (Released by a Centrist country)

Party: Democratic Movement

Ideology: Centrism

Leader of the Democratic Movement, he is generally inoffensive to the mainstream but is hated by the Far-Left.

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Marine Le Pen

Role: Head of State (Released by a Nationalist country)

Party: Resistance Party

Ideology: Nationalism

Daughter of a right wing extremist, Marine is hoping for a Democratic France and leads the Resistance Party.

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Henry VII

Role: Head of State (Released by a Monarchist country)

Party: House of Orléans

Ideology: Absolute Monarchy^note Monarchism

Leader of the House of Bourbon is currently in exile and is hoping for at least a Democratic Republic or, better still, some form of monarchy.

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• Allohistorical Allusion: There continues to be Orléanist pretenders to the defunct French throne. Henry VII was head of the House of Orléans from 1999 until his death in January 2019.
• Rightful King Returns: Players can restore the Orléans branch of the House of Bourbon to the throne, which was deposed in the Revolution of 1848.

Alain Soral

Role: Head of State (Released by a Fascist country)

Party: French Action

Ideology: Fascism

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• Adaptational Personality Change: OTL's Alain Soral, while expressing extreme antisemitic worldviews and sympathy for Nazi Germany, also had third positionist worldviews differing from traditional far-right stances such as support for left-leaning regimes like Venezuela under the Chavez and Maduro governments. His Red World counterpart is a more straight-up Fascist(likely of the National Socialist variety, through the name of his party, French Action, also implies adherence to extreme ultra-Royalism)

Luxembourg

Official Name: Republic of Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Monarchist), State of Luxembourg (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Communist Party of Luxembourg

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

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Ali Ruckert

Role: Head of State

Party: Communist Party of Luxembourg

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

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People's Republic of Belgium

Official Name: People's Republic of Belgium, Socialist Republic of Belgium (Revolutionary Socialist), Union of Belgium (Democratic/National Bolshevik), Kingdom of Belgium (Monarchist), State of Belgium (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Worker's Party

Ideology: Stalinism^note Communism

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• Dirty Communists: Thanks to a coup attempt by the army in 1985 and a subsequent attempt by the gendarmerie in 1986, Belgium has become one of the more hardline countries in Europe in an effort to purge reactionary elements from the regime.
• In Spite of a Nail: Brussels remains as the location of the European Parliament like in our timeline despite having been founded after the mod's first point of divergence.

Peter Mertens

Role: Head of State

Party: Worker's Party

Ideology: Stalinism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} As a teenager in the economically shattered Belgium, Peter Mertens became an adherent of radical Marxist-Leninist thought. By the landslide national victory for the Workers' Party of Belgium in 1984, Mertens had already joined the Marxistich-Leninistische Beweging, a growing force in local politics. Initially sceptical of the Workers' Party in power, he came to join their ranks after the attempted 'reactionary coup' in 1986, when he was just 17. Upon Germany's reunification and rapid Warsaw Pact expansion throughout Western Europe, Mertens sought closer alliances with those above him. Eventually in the late 1990s, he was granted his wish after gradually climbing through the ranks. Becoming Junior Politburo Member in 1997, Mertens had achieved national recognition and was slated by some as the possibly youthful successor to Secretary Ludo Martens. However, it would take another decade for Peter to lead his nation. After revolutionary Ludo's death in 2008, allies of the current Secretary moved quick to secure his place as the natural successor, purging possible opposition and rounding up all Politburo members who refused to comply with the new policies already put forward within the State Assembly. On Christmas Day, Peter Mertens became First Secretary and President of Belgium.

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Netherlands

Official Name: Republic of the United Netherlands, Kingdom of Netherlands (Monarchist), State of the Netherlands (National Bolshevik/Fascist)

Ruling Party: Communist Party of the Netherlands

Ideology: Neocommunism^note Communism

Established in 1985, the Republic of the United Netherlands is a Neocommunist multi-party socialist republic.

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• Chummy Commies: Downplayed, as the United Netherlands still accepts the Soviet version of communism, but it's one of the most democratic countries within the Warsaw Pact at game start, even having a semi-controlled opposition which consists of the Social Democratic Labour Party and the Christian Conservative Reformed Political Party.

Ina Brouwer

Role: Head of State

Party: Communist Party of the Netherlands

Ideology: Neocommunism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} A former social security lawyer, Ina Brouwer joined the Communist Party of the Netherlands in 1973 while studying at Groningen University. She soon became a leading member of the party’s young activist wing, closely identified with the ‘New Left’ movement. Under pressure from Brouwer and similarly-minded activists, the CPN became the first Western European communist party to put issues like feminism, gay rights and denuclearization on the forefront. This strategy was largely successful, and Brouwer was chosen as the new parliamentary leader of the CPN in 1981, only three months after first entering the parliament. The following year she was elected chairwoman of the party, despite opposition from the ‘Old Left’ faction of the party, who later organized themselves as the ‘Horizontalists’, members of different local party branches that broke down the party’s vertical organization of democratic centralism. Despite internal issues, Brouwer led the party to victory in the 1986 general election, forming a broad coalition with socialist and progressive Christian parties. While her government was initially met with tepid support from Moscow and other European communist governments, she soon established cordial relations by bringing the Netherlands back into the European Union of Socialist Republics, from which it had been absent since 1985. Unlike in neighboring countries, Brouwer did not push for the abolition of the parliamentary system, instead allowing the opposition to remain largely intact during her long tenure as prime minister. However this unique socialist system has begun to be undermined by a spike in organized crime, domestic terrorism, and the subsequent strengthening of the internal opposition of the Horizontalists.

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Central Europe

Switzerland

Official Name: Swiss Confederation, Republic of Switzerland (Revolutionary Socialist), Swiss People's Republic (Communist), Swiss Unitary State (National Bolshevik/Monarchist/Fascist)

Ruling Party: Swiss People's Party

Ideology: National Conservatism

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Albert Rösti

Role: Head of State

Party: Swiss People's Party

Ideology: National Conservatism

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Dominic Luthard

Role: Head of State (Fascist Italy conquers Switzerland, releases Fascist puppet)

Party: Swiss Nationalist Party

Ideology: Fascism

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Germany

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Official Name: German Democratic Republic, German Republic (Democratic/Nationalist), German People's State (National Bolshevik), German Reich (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Socialist Unity Party

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

Germany, Officially the German Democratic Republic is a communist nation in Central Europe. It is the most prosperous nation within the European Union of Socialist States (EUSS). It is currently led by Hans Modrow and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Due to its economic prosperity that communism managed to get, there is almost no opposition to the communist government even if there are few economic and political freedoms. However, the unification with Austria was met with strong opposition.

Following the Allied occupation after the Second World War, Germany was split into Communist East Germany and Capitalist West Germany in 1949. Both sides claimed to be the legitimate country and did not have a good relationship.In West Germany, Konard Adenauer was the Chancellor and wanted to change public opinions of Germany and erase the Nazi past. As they are opposed to Communism, they are also a member of NATO and a close ally of the United States. With the Marshall Plan, the German economy returned to normal and an economic miracle happened. Due to this, many aspects of life in the West are better than the East. Konard left office after the public found out about using the intelligence agency to the CDU's advantage in elections. This led to the creation of student organisations which split apart to form the Red Army Faction supported by the East Germans. Later, Willy Brandt from the Social Democratic Party conducted the Ostpolitik in order to improve relations with the East. He also conducted education reforms and other domestic reforms. He was succeeded by Walter Scheel from the FDP who was succeeded by Helmut Schmidt which was from the SPD and FDP’s coalition. However, communism was on the rise during his chancellorship. The Red Army Faction and the other radical Revolutionary Cells began to be more and more powerful. Due to this, the Communist Party of Germany together with other left wing parties formed a coalition and managed to win a majority in West Germany in 1984. As the US economy is crippling so is West Germany’s. By 1987, life quality in East Germany was better than the West. As the surrounding countries have fallen into communist hands, they held a referendum and reunified Germany under the East Germans.Initially, Communism was not very popular among most residents there. East Germany was more of a puppet state of the Soviet Union. In 1953, the Germans rebelled against the government leading to a brutal suppression by the Soviets and the East German police. The uprising is not known to most Germans. Although the uprising was unsuccessful, the East German government realised the discontent and started domestic reforms within the government as supposed to continue the suppression of the population. This was under the leadership of Walter Ulbricht. Although the Soviets disliked the liberal reforms he introduced, he was kept in power in fear that another uprising would occur. Despite these reforms, they still took a hard stance against the West supporting the Red Army Faction in West Germany. As Willy Brandt took power relations between the two improved. Ulbricht served until his death in 1973. He was succeeded by Hans Modrow who continued his reforms and introduced economic reforms making the economy better. With the Communists taking power in the West, the two Germans united in 1987.

In 1987 with the successful referendum for reunification in West Germany, the two Germany united and the Berlin wall was torn down. The new Germany now is the leader and founding member of the new European Union of Socialist States. As Austria was also affected by the European Spring across Western Europe, they were led by communists as well. Due to this, the EUSS pressured Austria to join Germany. In 1991, they joined Germany to form what it is today. However, the Austrian population are unhappy with this unification.

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Hans Modrow

Role: Head of State

Party: Socialist Unity Party

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} Hans Modrow’s career in the Socialist Unity Party stretches across many decades, beginning in the Free German Youth. His party connections allowed him to study in both Moscow and Berlin, graduating with a doctorate in economics. Over the years he served in several positions, joining the Volkskammer and the Central Committee, heading the department of agitation and eventually becoming first secretary of the SED in Dresden. He was one of the few party members that dared to openly criticize General Secretary Erich Honecker. Because of this he was prevented from rising further in the party and the Stasi hounded him for any evidence of treason. Yet he also developed important contacts in the Soviet Union, positioning himself as a future leader in the eyes of Moscow. Honecker was eventually encouraged to resign in 1990, his offices divided along the principles of collective leadership. Former Stasi second-in-command Markus Wolf came to dominate this new government, leading the brutal integration of Austria and suppression of dissent across southern Germany. Modrow, now the leading reformist in the SED, was made finance minister and oversaw the continued automation of the former West German economy. When Premier Wolf died in 2006, Modrow was unanimously chosen as the new head of government. Despite the relative ease of his election, Modrow soon came under fire from rival factions in the SED. Promising political reform but being unable to produce anything but cosmetic changes, he now finds himself isolated as his political rivals come ever closer to unseating him.

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Heinz-Christian Strache

Role: Head of State (Released by a National Bolshevik country)

Party: People's National Union

Ideology: National Bolshevism

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• Historical Villain Upgrade: Goes to a far-right leaning Austrian politician to a Red-Brown Ultranationalist with ties to Dugin and various other National Bolsheviks.

Wolfgang Rauls

Role: Head of State (Fascist Putin starts Nationalist uprising)

Party: Reclaim Germany

Ideology: National Liberalism^note Nationalism

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Udo Voigt

Role: Head of State (Fascist Italy wins against Germany, releases Fascist Germany)

Party: National Democratic Party of Germany

Ideology: National Socialism^note Fascism

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• Adaptational Wimp: While a fringe neo-Nazi politician in both OTL and the Red World timeline, in OTL Voigt was able to be elected as a member of the European Parliament, a position which he held from 2014-2019. In Red World, the SED’s crackdown on the far right post-unification and his party alienating both average Germans and the rest of the far right means that he won’t be achieving political power anytime soon barring leading a puppet Germany released by any Fascist country that occupies the GDR.
• The Friend Nobody Likes: The rest of the far right does not like Voigt and the NPD due to their own skeptism and outright hostility towards capitalism.
• Those Wacky Nazis: Heads the National Democratic Party(NPD) of Germany, a neo-Nazi party formed in West Germany during the Cold War by surviving Nazis.
• 0% Approval Rating: Voigt’s party has been reduced to a group of overglorified neo-Nazi skinheads whom have been repressed at every turn by the SED government and whose skinhead aesthetics turn normal Germans off. Even the rest of the already fragmented German far right are wary around them due to the NPD’s own anti-capitalist worldviews. The only way Voigt can come to power is if Germany is invaded by a Fascist country and puppeted by them.

South Germany

Official Name: South German Confederation

Ruling Party: Fatherland Alliance

Ideology: Austrofascism^note Fascism

If Fascist Italy declares War on Germany and wins, they can split Germany into Northern Germany and its South German counterpart with Austria in tow

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Jörg Haider

Role: Head of State (Fascist Italy conquers Germany, splits off South Germany)

Party: Fatherland Alliance

Ideology: Austrofascism^note Fascism

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Austria

Official Name: Federal State of Austria, Austrian Empire (Monarchist), Austrian Republic (Democratic), Austrian People's Republic (National Bolshevik), Austrian Democratic Republic (Communist/Revolutionary Socialist)

Ruling Party: Alliance for Austria

Ideology: Austrofascism^note Fascism

If Fascist Italy declares War on Germany and wins, they can split Germany into two pieces as Germany and Austria

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Gerhard Dörfler

Role: Head of State (Fascist Italy conquers Germany, splits off Austria)

Party: Alliance for Austria

Ideology: Austrofascism^note Fascism

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Poland

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Official Name: Polish People's Republic, United Polish States (Revolutionary Socialist), Republic of Poland (Democratic/Nationalist), Kingdom of Poland (Monarchist), Polish State (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Polish United Workers Party

Ideology: Stalinism^note Communism

Formed in 1952 out of the remains of the Communist-dominated Polish Republic, the Polish People's Republic remains as the centre of communist control in Europe and a loyal ally of the USSR. However, every since the revolutions of '87 and the Reunification of Germany, Poland has been gradualy pushed out of its role as the USSR's main ally on the European continent. And as the Polish right, one thought to be dead, begins to regenerate, thoughts start to form about the future of the socialist experiment in the cradle of slavdom.

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Czesław Kiszczak

Role: Head of State

Party: Polish United Workers Party

Ideology: Stalinism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} As the right-hand man of General Wojciech Jaruzelski, Czesław Kiszczak rose to power following a wave of protests in the autumn of 1993. Weary of Soviet influence over the Polish government, thousands of protestors took to the streets after the death of Grigory Romanov and his succession by Dmitry Yazov. The longtime civilian government was replaced by military rule and martial law was imposed. Kiszczak helped facilitate the crackdown in his role as minister of the interior, then served as a member of the Military Council of National Salvation, Poland’s de-facto government. The clampdown was harsh by Warsaw Pact standards and served to alienate much of the civilian population from their rule. But tensions eventually calmed and martial law was lifted in 1998. Kiszczak helped ease the transition to a civilian government, being appointed prime minister by President Jaruzelski the same year. Yet the two generals have been ineffective in solving the issues plaguing the country. Their rule has seen the economy steadily decline and the opposition movements of the 90s have recently begun to rear their heads again. The aging Marshal Jaruzelski relinquished nearly all power in 2005, leaving General Kiszczak to preside over an ineffectual and unpopular government.

• In Spiteof A Nail: Despite World History being drasticly changed, Kiszczak still participates in a military coup against the Polish Government (although this time it's 1993 instead of 1981).
• Dragon Ascendant: He leads the Polish Military Junta ever since the retirement of General Jaruselzki.

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Leszek Miller

Role: Head of State (Released by a Moderate Socialist country)

Party: Solidarity

Ideology: European Moderate Socialism^note Moderate Socialism

• The Mole : Miller, a known communist in OTL, leads this universe's version of Solidarity ; however, instead of being a legitimate opposition force, it's instead a satelite party used by the PZPR to quell critisism.
• Historical Villain Upgrade : Unclear. While his OTL Self was a communist with quite a few skeletons in his closet (ESPECIALY After his term as Prime Minister) he was still dedicated to creating an actual independent Polish state. Here, he may either be the last major Democratic figure in Poland or the leader of a communist satelite party.

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Janusz Korwin-Mikke

Role: Head of State (Released by a National Conservative country)

Party: Revolutionary Justice

Ideology: National Conservatism

• Took a Level in Kindness : While OTL Korwin's views border on fascism, here he's just another standard conservative, replacing the Kaczyński brothers (who most likely got purged).

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Marian Kowalski

Role: Head of State Fascist Putin starts Nationalist uprising)

Party: New Polish Right

Ideology: Nationalism

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Czechoslovakia

Official Name: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Czechoslovak Federative Republic (Democratic), Kingdom of Moravia (Monarchist), Czechoslovak Republic (National Bolshevik/Nationalist/Fascist)

Ruling Party: Communist Party of Czechoslovakia

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

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Marián Čalfa

Role: Head of State

Party: Communist Party of Czechoslovakia

Ideology: Leninism^note Communism

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Hungary

Official Name: Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian People's State (National Bolshevik), Hungary (Democratic/Nationalist/Fascist), Kingdom of Hungary (Monarchist)

Ruling Party: Hungarian Working People's' Party - Loyalists

Ideology: Neoauthoritarianism^note Communism

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Rezső Nyers

Role: Head of State

Party: Hungarian Working People's' Party - Loyalists

Ideology: Neoauthoritarianism^note Communism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} Rezső Nyers was one of the leading members of the Social Democratic Party in post-war Hungary. In 1948 the party caved under the increasing pressure of the occupying Soviet forces and merged with the communists to form the Hungarian Working People’s Party. As a former social democrat, Nyers was viewed with suspicion by many communists, despite serving as a member of the party leadership. With the rise of János Kádár to the position of General Secretary, Nyers was appointed to the Central Committee and chosen to head the Ministry of Finance. There he drew up an economic reform package known as the New Economic Mechanism, which introduced some market forces into the Hungarian socialist economy. But the reforms were counteracted by the orthodox marxists in the party and Nyers lost his political prominence for several decades. It wasn’t until the death of János Kádár in 1989 when Nyers returned to power in the moderate government of Károly Grósz. Advocating smaller changes to the political system, Grósz was soon outpaced by the many radical reformers he promoted during his time in power. When he died in 1996 the reformers held almost complete control over the government, with Rezső Nyers becoming the next General Secretary. Despite being the oldest leader in the Warsaw Pact, Nyers’ government has been energetic in its promotion of system change. His economic reforms have led to a burgeoning free market of small businesses across Hungary. But he still has to contend with a growing faction of hardliners who accuse him of not wanting to simply reform the socialist system, but to jettison it entirely.

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Nordic Countries

Iceland

Official Name: Iceland, Icelandic Commonwealth (Monarchist), Icelandic People's Republic (Revolutionary Socialist), Union of Iceland (Communist)

Ruling Party: Police Commission

Ideology: Military Junta^note Nationalism

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Haraldur Johannesen

Role: Head of State

Party: Police Commission

Ideology: Military Junta^note Nationalism

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Denmark

Official Name: Danish Socialist Republic, Danish Democratic Federation (Communist), Danish Republic (Democratic), Danish People's Republic (National Bolshevik), Kingdom of Denmark (Monarchist), Danish Realm (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Left Socialists

Ideology: Orthodox Leninism^note Revolutionary Socialism

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• Defector from Decadence: In 1985, Denmark refused to ratify the Treaty of Strasbourg and left the European Union due to the Left Socialists' "Red Europe Policy", which states that Denmark should only join an explicitly socialist European Union. The Holmsgaard government has tried to rejoin the EU using the same policy, but reconciliation is still highly unpopular within the party due to its anti-Soviet position.
• The Exile: Since the proclamation of the Danish Socialist Republic in 1985, the former Queen of Denmark has lived in exile in the United Kingdom

Anne Grete Holmsgaard

Role: Head of State

Party: Left Socialists

Ideology: Orthodox Leninism^note Revolutionary Socialism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} Anne Grete Holmsgaard is a long time member of the Left Socialist Party, the governing party of Denmark since 1983. Joining the now defunct Folketing as a MP in 1979 as part of the general surge attained by the Left Socialists, Anne Grete Holmsgaard was instrumental in shaping the foreign policy of the young Danish Socialist Republic from the early 80s and onwards. Cycling out due to the rotation principle of the Left Socialists in 1986, Holmsgaard returned to the halls of power after the 1991 elections, now as a senior figure within the party. And when former president Søren Kolstrup retired after the 2001 elections, Holmsgaard was elected President by the People’s Assembly despite grumbling from the MPs associated with the ‘public solidarity organisations’, a term for the half of parliament seats assigned to the trade unions, farmers’ associations and student unions. Since then, Holmsgaard’s presidency has been marked by stable economic growth, with a rise in exports, not just to Denmark’s usual trade partners but also to the Warsaw Pact, as Holmsgaard has rekindled Denmark’s ties to the European Union and Germany in particular, to the cheers of the Communist Party and the chagrin of the still sizable anti-Soviet faction within the Left Socialists. However, it has also been marked with a streak of antisemitism, typically uncharacteristic for Danish politics, with a malign rhetoric towards the small Jewish minority from the President. As Holmsgaard is entering her sixties, some are wondering whether the aging stateswoman is soon to retire, come the 2011 General Election.

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• Politically Incorrect Villain: Holmsgaard's political career has become stained by an overt streak of antisemitism in a political landscape where such views are significantly marginalized. This has caused a significant headache for the Left Socialists who frequently condemn her views, especially since the President's rhetoric has begun to legitimize groups on the far right.
• 0% Approval Rating: While the Holmgaard presidency has been marked by stable economic growth, her pro-EU stance and open antisemitism have made her increasingly unpopular with her own political party, with many hoping for her to retire before the 2011 General Election.

Norway

Official Name: Norwegian Federation, Norwegian Republic (Communist), Norwwegian Union (National Bolshevik), Kingdom of Norway (Monarchist), Norwegian Realm (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Red Alliance

Ideology: Left Maoism^note Revolutionary Socialism

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Øystein Meier Johannessen

Role: Head of State

Party: Red Alliance

Ideology: Left Maoism^note Revolutionary Socialism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} Øystein Meier Johannessen has always been a radical and eccentric personality. During the eighties, as a wave of political violence and upheaval swept across Norway, Johannesen associated with the Red Electoral Alliance, a big-tent party of revolutionary socialists, Marxists and Maoists. This ad-hoc coalition successfully toppled the Norwegian government in 1984, forcing the royal family into exile and cementing their power through a general election the following year. Johannesen quickly aligned himself with the faction of Prime Minister Erling Folkvord against the Maoist Old Guard of the party. The new government was soon faced with a power struggle, ending with the expulsion of the Maoists in 1987. The revolutionary socialists soon cemented their power with the promulgation of a new electoral law which heavily favored the ruling party. This system, conceived by Johannesen, has kept the Red Alliance in power for over two decades. As a key figure in the revolutionary government, Johannesen kept secretly amassing power behind the scenes through threats, intimidation and bribery. In 1992 he succeeded in calling a leadership election which forced Folkvord to resign, paving the way for his own rise to the position. Since then the Norwegian government has grown increasingly repressive while Johannesen has continued to consolidate power, becoming president in 1997 and overseeing a drastic decline in the country’s international standing. Now isolated and confined by the duties of state, Johannesen’s rule has become more arbitrary than ever, and many are doubting whether he is even mentally fit to be the leader of Norway.

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Sweden

Official Name: Kingdom of Sweden, Republic of Sweden (Revolutionary Socialist), Democratic Republic of Sweden (Communist), State of Sweden (National Bolshevik), Swedish Realm (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Centre Party

Ideology: Agrarian Centrism^note Centrism

The last remaining democracy in Scandinavia, mainly due to its long standing policy of neutrality during the Cold War.

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• Last of His Kind: Sweden is the last democracy in Scandinavia, spared from revolution and Soviet influence due to its policy of neutrality and membership in the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.

Maud Olofsson

Role: Head of State

Party: Centre Party

Ideology: Agrarian Centrism^note Centrism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} Maud Olofsson has the honor of being one of the few non-Socialist leaders of Europe. Having been active in the Centre Party since 1974, Olofsson climbed the party ladder from Ombudsman of the Norrbotten youth chapter of the Centre Party to the leadership, only making a sojourn from 1981 to 1989 to be a stay-at-home mom. Taking up a career in public administration, she eventually combined her political aspirations with her work experience and was elected to the Riksdag in 2002, making her yet another feature of the changing political landscape that defined the 2000s in Sweden. When Lennart Daléus stepped down from the leadership position in the prelude to the 2006 election, Olofsson was, despite her relatively short tenure in the Riksdag, elected the next leader for the Center Party and led the party to victory in the elections. She formed a coalition with the Christian Democrats, but also with a surprising supply and confidence deal with another newcomer to Swedish politics, Jimmie Åkesson's National Democrats. Olofsson's leadership has brought a new line to the Centre Party, taking it from its agrarian roots in a new direction, as her government has enacted sweeping a liberalization programme of the Swedish economy, with hints of a desire to 'restructure' the Swedish Model. While the left surged in 2009 in response to this, Olofsson managed to maintain a governing majority, in part thanks to the alliance with the National Democrats. Despite their electoral successes, the left-wing of the Centre Party is getting increasingly concerned about her market reforms and the influence of the National Democrats over the government, prompting concerns that the cordon sanitaire against the far left might soon be broken.

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Finland

Official Name: Finnish Democratic Republic, Finnish People's Republic (Communist), Republic of Finland (Democratic), Finnish People's State (National Bolshevik), Kingdom of Finland (Monarchist), Finnish State (Fascist)

Ruling Party: Communist Party of Finland

Ideology: Orthodox Leninism^note Revolutionary Socialism

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• Chummy Commies: Finland is noted as being one of the world's few socialist democracies.
• The Coup: In 1983, Soviet-aligned communists tried to overthrow the Finish government. While the coup was unsuccessful, it had great ramifications on the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union.
• Big Bad: To Finland, the Soviet Union is viewed as a threat to their national security, sponsoring hardline communist groups and provoking a border conflict in 1990. Since then, Finland has remained prepared for future Soviet aggression.
• Mole in Charge: The previous Prime Minister Asko Mäki was forced to resign following revelations that he was in contact with the KGB.

Juha-Pekka Väisänen

Role: Head of State

Party: Communist Party of Finland

Ideology: Orthodox Leninism^note Revolutionary Socialism

In-Game Biography: ^{Click to Show} The leader of one of the world’s few socialist democracies, Juha-Pekka Väisänen was once a radical adherent of revolutionary communism. As a young man, not yet deeply involved in politics, he was one of the few Finns who supported the attempted takeover of the Finnish government by Moscow-aligned communists in 1983. The aftermath of the coup attempt would see Finland turn against the Soviet Union for the first time in 40 years, and Väisänen’s small-time activism was pushed underground. His second political awakening would be seven years later in 1990, only a year after he graduated, as the escalating tensions between Finland and the USSR led to a border conflict that left dozens dead. The border clashes revealed their true motives, and Väisänen left his previous associations to join the increasingly anti-Soviet Communist Party of Finland. Though principally an artist by trade, he became more and more involved in the international peace movement, leading the ‘artists for peace’ against the wars in Afghanistan and Yemen. He was elected to the parliament, joined the central committee of the SKP and became minister of education and culture in 2007. Only a year later he became chairman of the SKP and prime minister, replacing Asko Mäki who resigned after revelations about his contacts with the KGB. Väisänen’s election campaign, based on the reaffirmation of the party’s anti-Soviet line, was widely accepted within the Finnish political sphere. Despite this he continues to face opposition from the very group of hardline communists he once considered himself a supporter of.

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• Old Shame: Väisänen used to be a radical adherent of revolutionary communism and supported the attempted coup by Moscow-aligned communists. However, after the Soviets instigated a border clash that killed several Finish soldiers he renounced his old views and his former associates.
• Tactical Withdrawal: Väisänens political activism was briefly forced underground after the failed communist coup and a breakdown of Finish-Soviet relations.
• Defector from Decadence: After the border clash between Soviet and Finish forces, Väisänen renounced his previous associations and joined the anti-Soviet Communist Party of Finland.
• Broken Pedestal: Väisänens biggest opponent in parliament is the hardline communist that he used to be a supporter of.
• Thou Shalt Not Kill: Väisänen is an outspoken peace activist and leader of the movement "Artists for Peace" which opposed the wars in Afghanistan and Yemen.