[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Date set for vote on new constitution
11th July 2019

The Federal Parliament of Lauchenoiria has set a date for the final vote on adopting a new constitution, which has been drafted over the last ten months since the conclusion of last year’s civil war. The Haven Accords, which ended the war, mandated that a new constitution be drafted and put to vote in a new national parliament following elections.

The new parliament, elected last month, will vote on the adoption of the new constitution on Friday 18th July 2019. It is expected to be an almost unanimous vote in favour – although the two Anarchist Party of Yervia representatives are expected to abstain due to their opposition to the ‘concept’ of a constitution.

The new constitution is expected to treble the number of representatives in the Federal Parliament, as well as giving provinces more power, enshrining the rights of minorities and removing the constitutional prohibition of tobacco and recreational drugs (although further legislation is planned to keep these things illegal for the time being).

The constitution has been agreed by all major parties, including all parties represented in the Federal Parliament except the Anarchist Party of Yervia. The Feminist Party and the Social Democratic Party, both of whom lost all seats in June’s election, have also publicly supported the new constitution.

All eight provincial authorities have also publicly supported the constitution, with even First Minister of Aeluria Nazario Macías, who supports Aelurian independence, claiming that the new constitution is a much fairer deal for Aeluria. Provinces have long sought greater powers from the central government, and it is expected this change in particular will be welcomed by many across the country.

The previous constitution, written by the Communist Party after the 1952 Communist Revolution, has provoked much controversy, even after it was heavily amended in 1993. Many had criticised it for being designed to keep the Communists in power. It was suspended by President Kieran MacKenzie last year at the request of Prime Minister Suleman Chaher, and has remained suspended since.

The adoption of a new constitution will spell the final end to a conflict which tore Lauchenoiria apart, led to the deaths of thousands of people, and fundamentally changed the country. The after-effects of the war are still present in all aspects of Lauchenoirian life, and many hope that the new constitution will lead to the country finally being able to move forward completely.