United Kingdom of Scandinavia

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The United Kingdom of Scandinavia is a constitutional monarchy consisting of the former nations of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Formed during the international economic crisis early in the 21st Century, the kingdom has quietly emerged as an emerging economic and technological power.

The Kingdom Begins
In early 2001, the international economic crisis hits the nations of Norway and Sweden. In September, both government shut down, burdened by debt and stagnant economies. Shortly after recalling their respective parliaments, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Norwegian King Harald V met with a mutual cousin, Prince Axel Gustaf Bernadotte, about ruling over the two nations. After months of negotiations, the United Kingdom of Scandinavia was formed. At the coronation ceremony of King Axel Gustaf, both Carl Gustaf and Harald lay their crowns and jewels before the new king. Axel Gustaf ordered the former monarchs to reclaim their relics, announcing that they would serve as Grand Princes of their respective realms. Shortly after coronation, Swedish economist Karl-Adolf Andersson was elected Prime Minister.

Immediately after his election, Andersson began to take measures to repair the new kingdom’s shattered economy. He reformed and tightened the once-liberal welfare system. He oversaw the decentralization of the nation’s education and health care systems to give local governing bodies more authority. He eliminated several government jobs, ignoring polls opposing the move. He stripped the state churches of their governmental power and entitlement, arguing that it would make the stagnant churches more active and vital. He reduced spending, eliminated corporate and agricultural subsidies, and lifted regulations on business. His reduction of income and capital gains taxes made the nation more attractive to business. He concentrated existing spending on infrastructure, technology, and defense. By Andersson’s re-election in 2005, the kingdom’s once-massive debt had turned into a substantial surplus.

Finland Joins the Kingdom
In 2007, the Finnish government collapsed, citing its massive debt and inability to pay for its services. As the country began to sink into chaos, several Finnish officials, led by MP Kristjan Lumme, began to negotiate with Scandinavia to join the kingdom. With the government’s consent, Scandinavian troops entered Finland to restore order and to protect the Finnish-Russian border in the event of a Russian invasion. A nationwide referendum was held in November, with entry into the kingdom passing overwhelmingly. On 3 December 2007, Finland officially entered into the United Kingdom of Scandinavia, with Lumme elected as Administrative Governor and Fredrik Sakari (a descendant of the Bernadottes) crowned Grand Prince. By the end of 2008, the Finnish economy was beginning to rebound, although it still lagged behind its Swedish and Norwegian counterparts.

Recent Developments
In 2009, with Europe threatening to plunge into war, Andersson reiterated his nation’s policy of strict military neutrality. Nonetheless, Andersson said his nation was prepared to defend its borders. In February, Parliament lifted restrictions on the kingdom’s strict gun ownership laws; a run on private gun sales began immediately afterward.