2nd Plembobrian Constitutional Crisis

The 2nd Plembobrian Constitutional Crisis (also known simply as The Dissolution and on some occasions the 2014 revolution) has been described as the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Plembobrian history. It began on 26 September 2014 with the dissolution of the autonomous Crilalian government by King Tozian, and culminated in the summoning of the nation's first elected constitutional government.

Background

Constitutional

Under the Act of Settlement Crilalia retained autonomy. The extent of the Autonomy is described in the Crilalia Act (1802). All domestic matters within the province were managed by the Provincial Government. All tax revenue was kept local. Royal Edicts did apply in Crilalia, however regulation set by the Ministers was not. The province also maintained an independent military.

Crilalia's independence had proven useful on a few occasions, most notably during the 1st Constitutional Crisis in which the Crilalian Guard was able to peacefully enforce the succession of Queen Nara.

Both legislation and regulation were discussed and set by the Privy Council. The Privy Council was composed of the Cabinet and the Delegates. The Cabinet consisted of Ministers appointed by the Crown, and the Delegates were elected by the people of each province -- one per province excluding Crilalia.

Political

In the late summer of 2014 the Crilalian House of Assembly was charged with privatizing previously nationally-owned oil fields. The Privy Council gave them the power to do this after a High Court ruling in December 2013 stated that, under the terms of the Crilalia Act, the national government was not allowed to manage natural resources within the borders of the province. While the Act could have technically been repealed by a royal edict, King Timothy decided that he would not do so.

In September 2014 the Privy Council became concerned that Assembly members were being payed off by oil giant Luxxar for control of the fields. On 25 September Luxxar was given access to a large oil field near Witchlyn. Many Assembly members publicly announced their support to give Luxxar another field near Cape Herman, which was the next to be considered.

On the same day that a decision was reached on the Witchlyn field, the Privy Council summoned President Karimi to appear before them. He was questioned by several members, especially by Pyrandian Delegate Jack McConnell. The meeting, as most meetings with the Crilalian presidents were, was conducted in secret. Former foreign minister Darren Crowly said, "[The president] was noticeably uneasy. He seemed to deflect all questions about [the oil fields] by reasserting that his government had full power over the matter, and that we were not allowed to intervene."

After the meeting finished, President Karimi was seen leaving the palace. Bystanders reported that he appeared "enraged" as he left.

Dissolution

On the morning of 26 September, a royal proclamation was issued officially declaring the dissolution of the provincial government. Warrants for the arrest of President Karimi and 13 assembly members were issued.

News of the proclamation quickly spread, and by that afternoon, protests began to spring up all over the province. The protests were fomented by several assembly members claiming that the king had arbitrarily, and despotically dissolved their sovereign government. Many media outlets had maliciously stated that the king had "banned elections." While a democratically elected body had been dissolved, the appointed governor would likely have called a provincial parliament, similar to the parliaments of the other provinces.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Darren Crowly at the time) requested comments from other nations in the region. He later commented "I was ordered to 'test the waters' we could have needed support if the Crilalian army was mobilized, which eventually happened." The majority of responses officially condemned "his majesty's banning of elections." The government of McMasterdonia was among the few offering support to the king stating:

"McMasterdonia believes that the legitimate government, led by the King of Plembobria should do whatever is necessary to protect their rule over that province. The province belongs to the nation of Plembobria by right and the King is the sole authority with the legitimate right to govern the province. Do whatever is necessary to restore order to the province. The best way to remove dissent is to track it to its source and then to make an example of the source.

Do not retreat. Do whatever is necessary. Do not be afraid to punish some of your people, in order to preserve the freedoms and security of the rest."

McMasterdonia was (and still is) undergoing its own crisis regarding apparent abuse of power by the monarch. Political commentator and satirist Kent Waheed quipped, "The royal family ought to rename it self the House of McDissolution," referring to Timothy's relation to the McMasterdonian royal family.^[1]

On 28 September, the king issued a statement containing the reasons for the dissolution in an attempt to cull the protests, and to defend his position to the foreign governments.

Coup d'etat

Protests had continued to escalate. President Karimi went into hiding. The Crilalian Provincial Guard was reorganized into the Crilalian Resistance Army. On 1 October, the CRA entered Rethel and surrounded the palace. Karimi announced from his hiding place that the monarchy had been suspended, and would be deposed outright if the king did not meet his demands. He demanded that the king establish a bicameral national parliament, which would write a national constitution. He also ordered the king to rescind his arrest warrant. This was done.

Aftermath

Elections and first parliament

The election took place on 5 October. The Privy Council agreed that an election would be held for 50-seat House of Commons using closed party list proportional representation, as well as a Senate which granted an equal number of votes (2) to the provinces. The parliament would be dissolved after a constitution was approved. The Royal Election Commission was formed to oversee the election. The REC stipulated that each party's list would have to be composed of members from all the provinces, and must be ordered in such a manner not to unfairly discriminate against provinces.

The CRA formed the Revolutionary Democratic Party. They held registrations in all 11 provinces for their party list. The leadership attempted to put as many Crilalian assembly members on the list as possible. It was rejected by the REC four times before finally being approved, with only five Crilalians on it, three of them former assembly members.

The Conservative Alliance, a loose national affiliation of center-right politicians in the provincial parliaments, registered with the REC as a political party. They endeavored to keep as many pro-monarchists as possible on the list. No such effort was successful for left-leaning political organizations. As such the RDP became a the largest center-left party.

Two other parties, the Libertarian Party and the People's Socialist Front were organized as well.

The RDP won a plurality of seats in both houses of the new Parliament. Before the body first convened, each party met privately to elect its own leader. At the RDP meeting, former president Karimi ran for the leadership. He was expected to win by a landslide. When nominations were being submitted, a lesser-known Crilalian assembly member named Sydney Briggs rose and declared her candidacy. No one else did.

The candidates for the leadership were entitled to give a short speech outlining their opinions. Karimi spoke about the crown's abuse of power and his republican views. Briggs, however, advocated more moderate policies. She also shed light on Karimi's corruption. Many at the meeting say they were moved by her speech. She was ultimately elected 19-12. The King announced then that he had appointed her Chamberlain (head of government) and she had the responsibility to form a cabinet government.

At the first meeting of Parliament on 7 October, then-chairman of the Democratic Union Ronald Andrews gave a speech applauding Plembobria's advancement of democracy. Shortly thereafter Briggs announced that she was willing to form an national unity government with the Conservative Alliance. After internal discussion, the CA rejected this plan. The RDP ultimately formed a coalition government with the PSF.

On 1 December, the parliament's constitution was approved. It outlined a plan for a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament and an executive council led by a prime minister. Three days later, the parliament was dissolved, and four days after that, on 8 December, Briggs and her party were re-elected.

---

^[1]This comment is incorrect, since the royal house of Plembobria is officially called the House of Flithen-McMaster