Libertaine Party

The Libertaine Party is a political faction in Selkie Politics that opposes most restrictions on selkie sea nomads by The Khilaia. They support any action that increases the autonomy of individual merchants or ship captains and they are popular among far-off explorers, fringe merchants, semi-smugglers, and a certain kind of selkie traditionalist.   The Libertaines are the least popular of the main three Khilaian political parties, though they hold a great deal of influence in their role as tie-breaker between the larger Judicialist Party and Federalist Party.   The very name of the Libertaine Party began as an insult thrown at court protesters - that they were lawless brigands who simply wished to indulge themselves on today without any worry for tomorrow. This reputation remains, but the Libertaines wear it with pride.   Many Libertaine philosopers understand this faction as a principled stand against government of all kinds, to create a world of true freedom that centers individual rights and agreements. These philosophies can be quite appealing in an increasingly-literate society, but they don't accurately reflect the Libteraine's political reality. Because the party primary works in the interest of its power-holders, which are mostly merchants, mercenaries, commanders, and haulers who have some problem with institutional regulation: they chafe against restrictions on over-fishing, they want to ignore a regulation on shipping or trading in certain cargo (like plundered loot), or perhaps they feel that they ought to be able to skirt inconvenient treaties. Such power-holders often also want more authority granted to Flotilla Grand Captains or Fleet Admirals (or at least ship captains). The Libertaines may advocate for universal individual freedom, but they often advocate for the removal of any barrier for Captains and Grand Captains to exploit and control their crews as part of that freedom. And if a regulation benefits enough Libertaine office-holders, they will vote to retain it even while they complain.   Clan Manuhel is the de-facto leading family of the Libertaines. That said, the Libertaines are unusual in how effectively they have recruited and mobilized smaller elite families and organizations. Unlike the other big parties, the Libertaines don't depend on the leadership of the Great Clans.