Government-in-exile

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

Governments in exile often have little or no recognition from other powers. Governments in exile currently include:

The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, a pro-Georgian government claiming to represent the breakaway autonomous republic of Abkhazia is currently located in the Georgian-controlled part of this region, the Kodori Valley.
File:Flag of Belarus 1991.svg The administration of the Belarusian National Republic exiled since 1920 and currently led by Ivonka Survilla in Toronto, Canada. See History of Belarus: BNR.
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. It is based in Rockville, Maryland, U.S.A.
The Republic of Cabinda was invaded by Angola in the year 1975. Cabinda had been a Portuguese protectorate, while Angola had been a colony.
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The government is largely based in Western Europe, Arab nations, and the United States. Some members are fighting in the rebel movement against the Russian Army.
The Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea has proclaimed Severo Moto Nsá "President" in Madrid exile.
The Monarchy of Iran, led by Reza Pahlavi.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) of Western Sahara is headquartered in the Tindouf region in Algeria but controlling what it calls the "Free Zone" in the eastern part of Western Sahara.
The Republic of Serbian Krayina Government in Exile was led since 26 February 2005 in Belgrade by the remains of the Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina after Croatian forces pushed out the internationally unrecognized entity in 1995 during Operation Storm at the end of the Croatian War of Independence.
The Republik Maluku Selatan, in exile from the South Moluccas, Indonesia, in the Netherlands since 1950.
The Central Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, a government in exile (based in Dharamsala, India), which claims to represent the people of Tibet.
The Royal Lao Government in Exile
The Government of Free Vietnam based in Garden Grove, California.

Actions of governments in exile

International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs. These actions include:

becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
amending or revising its own constitution
maintaining military forces
retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
issuing identity cards
allowing the formation of new political parties
instituting democratic reforms
holding elections
allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.

However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area.

Past governments in exile

President Benito Juarez' Government-in-Exile during the Empire of Maximilian in Mexico, from 1864 to 1867. Unique in that the Juarez Cabinet remained in Mexico, in the northern capital of Chihuahua.
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, claimed that the Emperor was still the legal head of Ethiopia.
The government in exile of the Free City of Danzig
The Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile, founded in 1962
Spanish Republican government in Exile after Francisco Franco's coup d'état. Based in Mexico City from 1939 to 1946 when it was moved to Paris where it lasted until Franco's death.
Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Georgia of 1921.
Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Ukraine.
‎ The Free Aceh Movement, a government in exile for the Aceh special territory of Indonesia, is headquartered in Sweden, which had surrendered its separatist intentions and dissolved its armed wing following 2005 peace agreement with the Indonesian Government.

World War II and Cold war

Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:

Belgium (invaded 10 May, 1940)
Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile (established in 1940 by Beneš and recognised by the British government)
Estonian Government in Exile (1940-1992), in Sweden after incorporation of Estonia into the USSR; had received international recognition by the western democracies.
Free France (after 1940)
Greece (invaded 28 October, 1940)
Luxembourg (invaded 10 May, 1940)
Netherlands (invaded 10 May, 1940, see Dutch government in exile)
Norway (invaded 9 April, 1940)
Poland (invaded 1 September, 1939) After WWII, the Polish government-in-exile remained in exile as a result of the Soviet occupation. Ireland, Spain and the Vatican were the last nations that ceased to recognize the government by 1979. The government dissolved itself after formally recognising the newly elected Polish president Lech Walesa and Poland's government in 1990.
Yugoslavia (invaded 6 April, 1941)
Commonwealth of the Philippines (invaded 8 December, 1941)

The Provisional Government of Free India (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.

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, Greenland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown. (See British occupation of the Faroe Islands)

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