Juglander Review
Emrta passes state constitution in regional referendum
The controversial state constitution project for the state of Emrta will become a reality after voters supported the proposal by 57.4% of the vote in a regional referendum.
The turnout was only about 52%, as several opposition parties, including a few Emrta regionalist organizations, including one that had supported the original constitutional draft passed by Emrta's constitutional convention a month ago, called for abstain in the referendum, as well as some as some local opposition parties -for different reasons- did as well.
The Emrta state constitution becomes the state constitution with the lowest popular approval, as the other ones were passed by a landslide in their referendum.
Autonomous Movement for Emrta, the largest political party in the islander state, was behind the original constitutional project, had finally decided to back the final state constitution (which had included important amends by the National Assembly, with the opposition of the own Emrta's regionalist party) as "the lesser of two evils" despite the opposition of their own youth organization and a minority of the regionalist party.
A leading representative of the Autonomous Movement for Emrta, despite the approval of the state constitution, has declared that they will campaign in the state elections for a future amend of the state constitution, and the right of self-determination for Emrta, in direct negotiations with the federal government. However, some political commentators and law experts believe that there is a more likely risk that the state constitution could see some of the competences included by the Constitutional Council in a decision which is expected to be announced in the coming months, after representatives from the National Democratic Party -which parliamentary group initially opposed the version passed by Emrta's constitutional convention- introduced a motion to the constitutional council to review if the state constitution violated Jugland's constitution.
However, beyond the deep disagreements between Emrta's regionalists and the main federal political parties regarding the competences between the state and federal governments, the passed state constitution includes another more divisive elements, such as the establishment of an elective monarchy as the preferential form of government in the today approved new state constitution, mirroring the Charter of Amvkhar which was established in the 19th century.
But representatives from the National Democratic Party believe that such controversial clause could be suspended and amended, following the coming state election, and adopt a republican form of government as it is the case of the other states that form the Federal Union of Jugland.
The state constitution proposes an elective monarchy in their preamble and third article, although it is not established who could be electable as monarch -who would be, however, under the authority of the constitution and federal government-, and through which legal mechanism. The election -or not election- is left to the Emrta's state assembly, which is required to pass a law deciding the issue following an election of their own regional parliament.
It is expected that the National Council will confirm soon the election for the first state elections in the Federal Union of Jugland, which are likely expected to be held in early May.
Until them, the National Council will appoint a provisional government for Emrta, as well as for the other states, until state elections are finally held.