Iberian Union

Iberian Union Unión Ibérica, União Ibérica
Flag of the Iberian Union
Iberia in Light Green Puppet Iberian Algeria in Light Grey Rest of Triumvirate in Dark Green TAG = IBR
Politics
Capital	Madrid
Ruling Party	National Union - FET y de las JONS
Head of State	Caudillo Francisco Franco and Caudillo António de Oliveira Salazar
Diplomacy
Sphere	Iberian Sphere
Foreign Alignment	Triumvirate Founder
Economy
GDP	$24.17B
Credit Rating	Fair
Market Type	Dirigisme

The Iberian Union is a federation formed between the nations of Spain and Portugal to protect each other from potential German aggression.

Due to the country's origin in a defensive pact, the Iberian Union stands out with the country uniquely having 2 heads of state. This country's unique nature also appears in that both nations have equal political representation within the political arena, and each nation have the right to veto any legislation that the other one attempts to pass.

This aspect of the Iberian Union has crippled the Iberian Union's attempts to reform and inject growth into its economy as the Spanish and Portuguese governments have not often got along.

It neighbours the French State to the north, French Algeria to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

It is a founding member of the Triumvirate, alongside the Italian Empire and the Republic of Turkey. However, conflicts have arisen within the faction, over disputes over trade and overlapping claims.

History

Second World War and Foundation of the Iberian Union

While the Iberian Union was only formed after the Second World War ended, its roots go all the way back to the Spanish Civil War, when Portugal gave aid to the Nationalists, sending the Lusitanian Legion to assist the Nationalists.

Such shared political structures and similar foreign policy led to a close partnership, culminating in the Iberian Pact, a non-aggression pact between both nations.

Both countries would remain neutral in the Second World War, staying out from the hostilities. This was despite Lisbon's Anglo-Portugese Alliance of 1373 with the United Kingdom and Madrid's loyal allegiance with the Germans by sending the Blue Division (Division Azul) to fight on the Eastern Front.

However, as the tide turned against the Allies and the start of Operation Sealion, Spain would partly break its neutrality by seizing Gibraltar and moving troops into French Morocco. The small nation of Andorra would also end up under Madrid's sway.

Portugal on the other hand, would only suffer, with Goa being annexed into India and the ports of Macao and Portugese Timor being lost to Japan.

Postwar Era

Despite gaining a share of the spoils, the Iberian Peninsula's newfound victory came at a price: It would find itself tied to the German Sphere as part of its alignment. After Germania regained a foothold in Africa, German forces would invade Angola and Mozambique, destroying the meagre Portuguese forces in the colonies. Fearing invasion, Spain and Portugal united into a new nation: the Iberian Union.

The Fragile Union

With their power secured, Franco and Salazar turned to the OFN, with American investments pouring into the country. It appeared that Iberia would become Washington's ally inside Fortress Europe. It was not to be. A group of Portuguese officers led by Humberto Delgado organised a plot to remove Salazar and restore Portuguese independence, but were crushed. It then turned out that Salazar himself had organised the conspiracy. however, instead of destroying the Union, it enabled Conservatives in government to unleash a new wave of terror and repression.

Parties and Factions

At the Start of Game

Name	Ideology	Leader
Traditionalist Spanish Phalanx of the Councils of the National Syndicalist Offensive - Orthodox	Civilian Dictatorship	Francisco Franco
Traditionalist Spanish Phalanx of the Councils of the National Syndicalist Offensive- Old Shirts	Falangism	Alfonso Armada
National Union	Civilian Dictatorship National Conservativism	António de Olivera Salazar
Opus Dei	Market Liberalism	Alberto Ullastres Calvo

Democracy Restored

Name	Ideology	Leader
Republican Union	Liberalism	Torcuato Fernández-Miranda
Democratic Renewal Party	Market Liberalism	Alberto Ullastres Calvo
People's Alliance	Conservatism	Manuel Fraga
National Union	National Conservatism	Alejandro Rodríguez de Valcárcel