Executive Junta

The Executive Junta is a contentious term which refers to a period between 905 and 908 ARR during which Supreme Chancellor Millardo Kuat attempted to exercise increasingly authoritarian rule of the Galactic Republic.

Background
Following the assumption of the Chancellorship by Millardo Kuat he carried on a raft of actions which saw the increasing concentration of power in his hands and those of his close supporters, and the suppression of his opponents. With Kuat's delegation controlling four council seats, command of the Republic Military, and the Chancellorship, and the allied Rendili delegation controlling the Vice Chancellor Ship, and a Supreme Court seat, Kuat and Rendili are identified as the leading forces of the Junta. Their control of the Executive branch of the Republic and their efforts to exert control from it, provides for the name for this period.

The Junta
Generally the beginning of the Junta is given as coinciding with the arrest of Justices Highbacca and Theodoric and the beginning of the Republic Judicial Crisis. The arrest of those balance of the Supreme Court, and the that of the Vice Chair of the Senate essentially paralyzed the Judicial Branch, and decapitated the Senate. With control of the Republic Military the Executive Branch and the only freely seated Justice also the Vice Chancellor, initially the Junta had essentially established complete control over the Republic.

The release of Harrison Theodoric was a check on the Junta's power as it restored leadership to the Senate, and challenged control of the Judicial Branch. This initial period was followed by jockeying for position. Millardo Kuat launched a grand tour of the Republic to drum up support, though he was only moderately successful and survived an assassination attempt on Corellia. Conversely Harrison Theodoric and Loronar consolidated opposition around the recently formed Commonwealth.

Following this period of stalemate Millardo Kuat went through with his agenda of Republic reform and went ahead with the creation of Republic Ruling Council under his direct control. The Republic Ruling Council effectively disbanded all Republic Ministries by executive order, and formed a single body headed by the Supreme Chancellor. He also vetoed efforts to try and reign in and reform the Republic Military.

The Junta also attempted to strengthen it power to control and punish the Senate via legislation, and establish an executive controlled agency to police the Senate and the Republic's ministries.

The Fall
After the acquittal of Chief Justice Highbacca the Junta began to lose momentum. After a motion of no-confidence was moved to a vote Supreme Chancellor Millardo Kuat resigned and the Junta effectively ceased to exist. Though the Chancellor attempted to contest the vote, after its conclusion, the vote was found to be appropriately held and its result was confirmed.

The Republic Military Mutiny, also contributed to the final dissolution of the Junta.

Criticism
The existence of the Executive Junta is itself contentious. Critics say that as Supreme Chancellor, Millardo Kuat acted within his power to try and reform the Republic and combat incompetence in corruption. They point to the significant diplomatic success the Republic enjoyed during the period, with the peace effort in Tion and the return of many former Republic members to the Republic, as evidence that the Republic prospered under his rule.

Legacy
Regardless of opinion on the period of the Junta has left a lasting legacy on the Republic. Undoing the Republic Rule Council resulted in the creation of the Castle Act which has become the blueprint for the Third Republic Ministry System. The Trial of Supreme Justice Highacca was also a key event in Republic history.

More controversially the failure of the Executive Junta has been linked to the later Senate Attack.