Government in exile
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A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.
Governments in exile frequently occur during wartime occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the Second World War, numerous European governments and monarchs were forced to seek refuge in the United Kingdom, rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the Nazis.
Current governments in exile
Currently, there are few governments in exile. They include:
- The Republic of China has arguably been in exile from mainland China since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taipei. See political status of Taiwan.
- Western Sahara's Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is headquartered in the Tindouf region in Algeria
- Aceh government in exile , Free Aceh Movement, is exiled in Sweden.
- the administration of the Belarusian National Republic exiled since 1920 and currently led by Ivonka Survilla in Canada, see History of Belarus: BNR
- the Government of Tibet in Exile led by the Dalai Lama in India, claiming to be the legitimate ruler of the historical Tibet
- the Government of Free Vietnam is led by General Nguyen Khanh, former chief of state of South Vietnam
- the government of, pre-World War II, Republic of Estonia, appointed by Kalev Ots, headed by Ahti Mänd
- A pro-Georgian government claiming to represent the breakaway region of Abkhazia is currently located in Tbilisi
- the Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea has proclaimed Severo Moto Nsá "President" in Madrid exile.
- the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma is led by Sein Win. It is composed of members of parliament elected in 1990 but not allowed by the military to take office.
- the "Gabonese Government of National Salvation" led by "Prime Minister" Daniel Mengara
- a "Republic of Serb-Krajina" was proclaimed on 26 February 2005 in Belgrade by hardline nationalists aligned with Vojislav Šešelj and the Serb Radical Party.
- the Republik Maluku Selatan, in exile from the South Moluccas, Indonesia, in the Netherlands since 1950.
- the government of Somalia, exiled in Kenya.
- the Government of Djibouti in Exile
- the monarchy of Iran, led by Reza Cyrus Pahlavi.
Past governments in exile
- Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
- Crown Council of Ethiopia, led by H.I.M Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie and based in the Washington D.C. area, had claimed that the Emperor is still the legal head of Ethiopia.
- The government in exile of the Free City of Danzig
- Spanish Republican government in exile after Franco's coup d'état. Based on Mexico City from 1939 to 1946 when it was moved to Paris where it lasted until Franco's death.
World War II
Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:- Belgium (invaded 10 May, 1940)
- Czechoslovakia (established in 1940 by Beneš and recognised by the British government)
- Free France (after 1940)
- Greece (invaded 28 October, 1940)
- Luxembourg (invaded 10 May, 1940)
- Netherlands (invaded 10 May, 1940)
- Norway (invaded 9 April, 1940)
- Poland (see Polish government in exile)
- Yugoslavia (invaded 6 April, 1941)
- Commonwealth of the Philippines (invaded 8 December, 1941)
Other exiled leaders in England included King Zog of Albania and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their overseas territories included Belgium, Vichy France and Free France.
The Danish exception
Denmark's occupation (9 April, 1940) was administered by the German Foreign Office, contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. Denmark did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. The King and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, Iceland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown.
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