The Mald Democratic Foundation is quite unlike any other human polity in the Universe.
It lacks a head of state and any clearly defined plenary decision making body.

Instead a number of groups of key people meet for temporary caucuses that discuss issues affecting the four worlds of the Foundation. They appear to be able to make decisions effectively this way and concepts such as political parties and in-fighting do not seem to go on - at least not in public. Understanding Mald politics is tricky - it is a very close society which does not encourage immigration and whilst civilised and polite to off-worlders, the average Maldenite can come across as inscrutable, standoffish and cold. They will rarely discuss internal political matters in front of strangers.

The entire population of all the worlds are often consulted on key policy decisions - the MDF seems to have got the principle and practice of the referendum to a level of efficiency unparalleled elsewhere. This is, of course easier because the populations of Mald worlds are low in Q0 terms - probably no more then 1.2 billion across all of them - and also because Mald has no colony worlds to worry about.

The body politic, such as it is, does select representatives, however, mainly to deal at the appropriate level with other human polities - to attend meetings and to speak for the Foundation at summits. It also selects its military leaders, who operate on a more permanent basis.

Currently the key ambassadors (Sifu) are:

The most influential body in the MDF is the Mald Research Foundation - originally formed on Earth in 2830 by the near legendary Gustav Mald, it is undoubtedly the most prestigious and respected research institution in history.

In the MDF the Main Academic Council of the MRF has considerable influence on decision making - being made up of the most venerated and respected academics. The current council is made up of the following exceptional individuals

Prof Alberto Malich