Referendum creates body to write Mahuset a new constitution

Lazia, 23 February 2019 — Mahusetans have voted to create the National Convention of 2019, an extraconstitutional body charged with giving the Confederation a new constitution, civil code and penal code.

Voters were put a single question: whether they supported "the establishment of an extraconstitutional body with the powers to establish, develop, coordinate, promulgate, revise, amend, interpret and produce materials intended to provide the Confederation of Mahuset with a new constitution, civil code, penal code, and otherwise long term governmental framework".

The measure passed without opposition. Of an electorate of nine, all nine cast a ballot, a turnout of 100%. Every vote was in favour, though one ballot was recorded as invalid, leaving eight valid votes in support. The result was certified by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Under the outcome, the Lazian Chamber and the Supreme Court are suspended and their powers transferred to the National Convention, a body of delegates appointed by the president that meets in a dedicated online chamber.

The vote was preceded by a campaign run through January and February under the banner "Yes for tomorrow" (Dutch: Ja voor morgen), with the slogan "I vote yes". It was backed by the Classical Liberal Party of President Emiel van der Huijsen and endorsed by Hasan Çakar, Lord-Protector of Mamucium. No organised "No" campaign was mounted; the Social Democratic Party, the Social Liberal Party and the Mahusetan Pirate Party took no formal position.

The referendum followed a prolonged decline in federal activity. Mahuset had held its first election at the start of 2018, after which repeated failures to reach a quorum in the Lazian Chamber made ordinary business difficult to conduct. Divisions had sharpened in December 2018 over social legislation, among them a ban relating to the Dutch awareness day "Purple Friday".

Edited for the relaunch of the Courant van Lazia.