2023 Kaijan Status Referendum
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North Kaijan: Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan North Kaijan.
South Kaijan: Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan Island, including the provinces of North and South Kaijan. | ||
The 2023 Kaijan Status Referendum is an upcoming referendum in both North and South Kaijan provinces, the resolutions are identical and both require 50% of those voting to approve it for it to pass. Although not legally binding, political leaders have stated they would discuss Kaijanese status if the referendum passed.
Background
Since its founding Kaijan has had a significant independence movement with a particular high point being the aftermath of the Great War when Kaijan was briefly known as the Republic of Kaijan from 1971 to 1972 before it was invaded by the central government. Starting in 2020, an insurgent group known as the Kaijan League took control of some of North Kaijan Province. This group's demands combined with overwhelming sentiment for independence led to the passage of identical measures in both province's legislature via a signed proposition signed by 350,000 in North Kaijan and almost 700,000 in South Kaijan.
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The 2023 Rerefrendum is non-binding although if passed experts suggest the central government could begin talks on status in 2024. Conservative thinkers such as Dennis Zhao have suggested the Referendum "holds no real political value and should be ignored". No province has ever ceded from Slokais, although attempts have been made such as the Northern Isles during a period of the 1890s. The referendums although being passed by the same organization have differing texts in North and South Kaijan. In North Kaijan, the question is: "Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan" while in South Kaijan the question is "Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan Island, including the provinces of North and South Kaijan". The referendum is also written in both provinces in English, Arabic, Spanish, and Slokasian with those in designated tribal areas being written in the local tribal language.