[Lauchenoiria]

Liaville Times – Referendum Special

15th February 2019

In the final two weeks running up to the Aelurian independence referendum on the 1st March 2019, the Liaville Times will be including a special supplement about the upcoming referendum, starting today. This will include discussion of the issues surrounding the debate, as well as relevant news and information.

Background

Aeluria is an island that is part of the Federation of [nation]Lauchenoiria[/nation]. Between June and August 2018, Lauchenoiria became embroiled in a bitter civil war. Following the coup by Suleman Chaher, Aeluria unilaterally declared independence. This declaration was recognised by [nation]Gnejs[/nation] and [nation]Kivasek[/nation]. For most of the war, the Chaher regime blockaded the island, leading to food and medicine shortages, as a result of this declaration.

The war ended upon the signing of the Haven Accords in [nation]Sanctaria[/nation]. Amongst a variety of other things, these Accords mandated that the island of Aeluria hold a binding referendum on independence on the 1st March 2019. This referendum was to have three choices: independence, increased devolution along lines specified by the Accords, and the status quo. The latter option could be omitted upon the agreement of the government of Aeluria and the Guarantor (Sanctaria).

Upon agreement of all parties, the status quo option is not on the ballot, giving Aelurians the choice between further devolution and independence. Voting shall be open between the hours of 7am and 10pm local time on the 1st March 2019. All Lauchenoirian citizens over the age of 18 resident on Aeluria, and all eligible foreign citizens who have resided in Lauchenoiria for a minimum of 10 years, shall be eligible to vote, as per Lauchenoirian law.

Position of Political Parties on Independence

Parties supporting independence:

Aelurian Independence Party (AIP) – their main goal is to achieve Aelurian independence, and stand up for Aelurian interests.
Green Party – environmentalists, they support independence primarily because Lurian religion requires adherents to care for the environment.
Feminist Party – rumoured to be a Kerlian front, the Feminists claim that Aeluria would be friendlier for women than mainland Lauchenoiria. It has been suggested that their true aim is instability, which benefits Kerlile.

Parties opposing independence:

Liberal Party – the largest party on the mainland, led by Josephine Alvarez, the Liberals stand for Lauchenoirian unity, they believe Aeluria is better off within the Federation, and that independence would make Aelurians worse off.
Communist Party – the Communists believe in the unity of all peoples, and hence oppose what they see as unnecessary division.
Conservative Party – they believe Aelurian independence is completely unviable, as Aeluria relies on food imports from the mainland, and that it would destroy their economy.
Social Democratic Party – they believe Aeluria is a vital part of Lauchenoiria, that there is no reason for independence, and that we must come together instead of splitting apart.
Lauchenoiria First – far-right fringe party, they believe the AIP are dangerous to Lauchenoirians, that independence may be a Kerlian plot to annex the island and thus is a security threat.

Neutral parties:

Left Alliance – a coalition of communists and socialists who were opposed to the Chaher regime, the LA is a party with a complex history who have decided to remain neutral on the Aelurian question.
Pacifist Party – a new party, founded only five months prior, dedicated to preventing a repeat of the civil war. They are now polling a remarkably high 12%, for a new party, but have not taken a position on Aeluria.
Lauchenoirian Democratic Alliance – a new centrist party, pitching themselves as the party for Liberals who opposed the Walker-Moore administration’s actions in the war, have stated that they ‘support Aeluria’s right to self-determination’.