King, Prime Minister Announce Plebiscite On Constitutional Reform Plan

Dominion of Afula – His Majesty The King, in tandem with prime minister The Prince Nathan, called yesterday evening for a national vote on a constitutional proposal which would grant the monarch and his government broad powers and reestablish Parliament as a direct democratic body. Announced on the ninth anniversary of the signing of the original Constitution of Florenia and one year after the prime minister initiated the reform process in earnest, the “Resolution on Florenian Government” briefly outlines the prime minister’s recommended blueprints for state institutions including Parliament, a new Council of State, and an overhauled Crown Court. The Resolution is explicitly based on the principles of community, equality, and democratic involvement, with consensus decision making and simplicity eclipsing division and impersonal bureaucracy.

“The Resolution’s proposals reflect the new, uniquely Florenian direction in which the Kingdom now strides” the prime minister said. “Direct democratic oversight and full power of repeal will constrain a strong executive Sovereign and government.” Traditional checks and balances are superfluous, he continued, adding, “most importantly, Florenian government will now reflect the reality of Florenians’ mutual familiarity, trust, and community. We will see a national ethos develop along those lines.”

The Resolution also stipulated that The Journal will publish any and all citizens’ opinions on the Resolution’s proposal and other aspects of His Majesty’s reform program as they are announced and adopted.

Reform plans were first proposed with His Majesty’s promulgation of the November Declaration on 25 November 2016 in which the King suspended Parliament and assumed significant prerogative powers. In September of last year, the prime minister made clear that the government was moving forward with such plans, and on the last day of the year he announced that the government would take a more piecemeal approach to reform in order to best consider its options. The Resolution is the culmination of these events, enshrining in law a strong monarch by democratic support both to enact reform and as an integral institution of the reformed Florenian state.

“His Majesty will issue decrees on various aspects of Florenian government,” the prime minister continued, “with Parliament also adopting legislation, together creating, in effect, a robust yet informal constitutional basic law.” This method eschews a formally codified constitution with specific amendment procedures in favor of a more flexible system allowing for significant adjustments if required. He also indicated that, beyond the core institutions of Florenian government, longstanding elements of the Florenian state such as the armed forces and national symbols will be subject to change and that new organizations, including a national library, will be established.

The prime minister’s office released drafts of royal decrees establishing the new Parliament, the Council of State, and the Florenian Library, converting the Armed Forces into a fully-commissioned service, and centering the 12-pointed star and the maple leaf in forthcoming national symbolism.

The adoption of the Resolution in the national referendum would provide the plan with the democratic legitimacy to undergird the Crown’s and the Council’s governing on behalf of the population and reinforce the popular and egalitarian character of the Florenian state and Monarchy. While Florenian citizens will only formally vote on the content of the Resolution itself, the supplementary information and draft decrees provide voters with a more robust picture of the reforms the prime minister will pursue. Popular affirmation of a particular direction and particular principles are the prime minister’s objectives.

His Majesty also issued a decree yesterday affirming the status of ten individuals and the Sovereign as the sole present Florenian citizens, effectively expelling four inactive citizens. All ten of these citizens will be eligible to vote in the referendum.

The government will circulate the text of the Resolution, along with relevant reporting in The Journal, to all Florenian citizens. Voting will occur between 10 and 13 September to allow for any debate and to ensure notification of all citizens. Voting will be private and online, and the government expressed confidence that the Resolution would be adopted.