Proclamation of the Svobodny Republic
Proklamace Svobodné Republiky
Pursuant to the results of the 3 July 2011 plebiscite regarding the retention or abolition of the monarchy, We the People of Svobodny, hereby establish the Svobodny Republic.
Na základě výsledků hlasování 3.7.2011 pokud jde o zachování nebo zrušení monarchie, lidé Svobodný, zřizují Svobodné Republiky.
Background
Following the death of the much-praised King Aleksandar V in April 2010, the monarchy descended into a series of bitter scandals. In accordance with the law, Aleksandar V's eldest son, Crown Prince Aleksandar became King Aleksandar VI. Set to be crowned on 3 June 2011, his coronation was delayed following a year of turbulent infighting within the Royal family. The cause of the rift was Aleksandar VI's partner, Markéta Filipová. She is a divorcée with a child from a previous marriage, who was not a member of the state religion (Roman Catholicism). Not only did the law require the King to be Roman Catholic, but anybody he married had to be Roman Catholic. Religion does not play any significant role in the day-to-day lives of modern citizens of Svobodny, and likewise Filipová having a child from a previous marriage and being divorced was considered acceptable by most of society. With this in mind, the government of the day was willing to change the law to accommodate the King's new relationship.
However, things became complicated when the King and Markéta had a child outside of marriage. As before, this is considered acceptable to most in modern Svobodny society, but the King requested the Prime Minister to change the law a further time, to allow his daughter to ascend to the throne. This proved too much for the public. The popularity of the new King and especially his girlfriend plummeted. The monarchy was being dragged into politics and was increasingly being seen as out-dated and farcical. Whereas previously the public had been happy to let the monarchy quietly tick over, there were now calls for King Aleksandar VI to abdicate. Even some monarchists believed the King had irreversibly damaged the monarchy's prestigious image and thus, had to go. Even this, however, threw up problems. The King couldn't just abdicate: an act of parliament would be needed to facilitate such. Furthermore, due to the male-preference succession Svobodny operated, the popular Princess Anna, the King's younger sister, would be skipped in succession for Prince Štěpán, King Aleksandar and Princess Anna's younger brother. The King, however, denied rumours of abdication. The Prime Minister of the day resigned, as the whole issue descended into a constitutional crisis and a national embarrassment.
This proved to be the final straw amongst the citizens of Svobodny. Following an indecisive general election in May 2011, the new coalition government, led by Prime Minister Artur Hlaváč (Democratic Party) called for a referendum on the monarchy, scheduled for 3 July 2011, one month after the postponed coronation of Aleksandar VI. The referendum was conclusive: 69.2% for abolition, 30.7% for retention (turnout 79.1%). With that, the final nail was hammered into an 800-year old monarchy that had been in decline for the last century.
Future
Following the approval of the referendum, the Proclamation of the Svobodny Republic was made shortly after 3pm local time on 8 August 2011. A constitutional convention has been called to draw up the structure of the new government, with fresh election to follow thereafter.
