Lawattsian Referendum Results

[Lawattsia]

Good evening, Lawattsia. This is Howard McMahon on a historic news night for the country. Tonight, we decide the fate of the Empire, and I mean that literally. All through today and into this evening, the public has gone back to the polls for the first time in two years since the general election to decide the fate of the Emperor, Lawrence II. Will the public favor the end of the monarchy in favor of an elected head of state, or will we continue on the way we've been going for a thousand years? This is a question that is being decided tonight. Joining me will be Professor Bob Kelsey of Frederick University to discuss just how the public is voting and why and what parties support the abolition and continuation of the monarchy. Also joining me will be the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and other party leaders to discuss the results as we get them. As I look over my shoulder to the clock on the wall, we should see the earliest results coming in on your screen now...

FAVOR ABOLITION 14,922

RETAIN MONARCHY 6,371

And there we have our earliest returns of the night. Abolition is ahead right now by over 8,000 votes. I'm going to bring in Prof. Kelsey now. Bob, what can you tell us about the earliest results?

Well, the earliest results are coming in from Monn Valley and Lonsport, because those areas have much smaller divisional precincts than in places like here in Frederick. We're obviously not seeing any results from the western cities like Kent or Valentine yet.

What about a city like Oliver?

Well, that's the Prime Minister's constituency. It's also been a hotbed of anti-monarchical sentiment for more than 200 years because of its trade union history. Oliver is probably going to be the place that votes highest in favor of abolition by proportion, while Kent, which is very affluent and more conservative, will probably be most likely to support the status quo.

Thank you, Bob. I'll be coming back to you. In the meantime, we have another slate of results in. These are coming from some of the rural areas, I believe. Let's have a look at the updated figures...

FAVOR ABOLITION 17,485

RETAIN MONARCHY 14,618

As expected some of the rural areas of central and southeast Lawattsia have provided a big jump for retention, but keep in mind, there are lots of results to go. We'll keep you updated through the night.

[Lawattsia]

So, as we continue on tonight with our coverage, I'm being joined by the leader of the People's Alliance Party, John Buttons. Mr. Buttons, your party is the only one that outright opposes abolition of the monarchy. Perhaps you could explain the Alliance's position on these results a little better?

Well obviously, we support the monarchy because it's a thousand years of tradition for the country, and look, in the SLU, we're one of the only nations to retain that sense of tradition and in this world, Howard, you've gotta stick to at least some traditions. We shouldn't just decide one day that because a left wing government is in power that those traditions are worth throwing away.

One could argue, could they not, that as a progressive nation, that such a position as Emperor is outdated at best, and at worst, a drain on the public finances? Do you think it makes us look bad to our SLU neighbors?

No, of course not. Why would I think it makes us look bad to them? Listen, there's no rule in the SLU that prevents a monarch remaining nominal Head of State? If there had been, they'd have kicked us out a long time ago, rather than running to us to stay in charge of regional immigration, which my party has long held, we aren't and shouldn't be responsible for. As for public finances, let me ask you if you think all those social programs that the Social Democrats and the Social Liberals are pouring money into right now if they're not a drain on us? Get real, Howard.

That's a matter for the public, I think, Mr. Buttons. What will your party do if the referendum succeeds?

I don't think we're faced quite with that idea yet, Howard. PAP polls are telling me that the monarchy is very, very popular. Believe me.

Thank you for joining us, Mr. Buttons. Now, as we look over my shoulder at the screen... We will see... There it is. The current count on the referendum. Let's have a look at the numbers.

FAVOR ABOLITION  1,363,522

RETAIN MONARCHY 947,208

So those are the current numbers. So far, no numbers in yet from anyplace in the northeast, including here in Frederick, so we've got a way to go as of yet. I'm going to speak now to the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Social Liberal Party, Richard Waxler. Mr. Waxler, thank you for joining us here in the studio. Can you describe your current thoughts on the numbers as they appear now?

Obviously, we're currently pleased with where the results are going. I'm not sure exactly what Mr. Buttons was going on about. It looks right now as though his internal polling was very, very off. SLP internal polling expects a big victory for our side.

If the referendum were to fail, hypothetically speaking, would that mean the downfall of the government? Specifically, would you withdraw your party's support from the government, Mr. Waxler?

Well, look, the government is only in its second year of a four year mandate. If Sir Roger wanted to hold an early election, that would be one thing, but I don't anticipate any need to withdraw from the government. We're getting this done and working together quite fine.

So, Sir Roger's frequent trips abroad, leaving you in charge at the Oak Palace don't play havoc with you?

No, of course not. Any idea like that is nonsense. This is a historic opportunity for our nation tonight. That's where my focus is.

Thank you, Mr. Waxler. Before we head off to Kent for some of their referendum coverage, let's have a look at the scoreboard, if you will...

FAVOR ABOLITION 1,922,076

RETAIN MONARCHY 1,041,683

[Lawattsia]

So with more results coming now, we have a couple of interesting interviews lined up. But first, before we get into that, some breaking news from Oliver. It appears that a ballot box was misplaced for over an hour before being found, but some results from Oliver will be delayed according to that report. With that, let's have a look at the current results and then we'll have an interview with the Prime Minister. Here are the updated results:

FAVOR ABOLITION 44,651,110

RETAIN MONARCHY 29,333,176

There we are. Those are the results as they stand currently. Abolition has opened up quite a lead. With that, let me bring in the Prime Minister himself, Sir Roger Owen.

Thank you for having me on, Howard.

So, Prime Minister, good results for your side so far. You were the driving force behind the referendum in favor of abolition. Why do you feel that phasing out the Emperor is a positive goal to achieve long term for the country?

Well, I want to stress it's nothing personal against this Emperor. He's represented us as a symbol on the world stage, especially during the Rossian crisis, he provided excellent patriotic leadership. But, this goes back to when I first became an MP 15 years ago. I promised my constituents in Oliver that I would work for a more equal society, and having an Emperor, a position that is hereditary, inherently makes society less equal. This is a chance to keep my promise not just to my constituents, but to the public as a whole, that I made at the election a couple of years ago.

Do you feel confident that the referendum tonight will result in a success for your side?

Absolutely. I echo the sentiments of Mr. Waxler in his belief that we are about to see a result that gives us a more equal society.

Sir Roger, what is the government's plan to replace the Emperor as Head of State. I understand the role is largely ceremonial, but there is still the matter of checks and balances, if you like? Who is the check on your, and for that matter, any Prime Minister's power in the future? An Emperor could veto legislation...

That's certainly a valid concern, but we haven't had that happen since before I was born...

Yes, you're quite right, but what checks the Prime Minister's authority ultimately? Will it simply be the Supreme Court, or will your government offer an elected Head of State to the people in another referendum?

I think we're going to operate without a Head of State for now. The public deserves a break from another referendum, and to be fair, it's not as though the public has been clamoring for an elected President or Governor or whatever you'd call the new office. We have a political system that works as it stands. The Parliament of Lawattsia, which is responsible to the people and no one else.

Was it not the SDP's policy going into the referendum to have an elected Head of State? Are you putting the kibosh on your own party's policy and siding with the Liberals?

I don't look at it that way. If you look at our election manifesto, that was the preferred option of the party, but it was by no means our set policy to have one. In cabinet, we have had discussions on this, and the majority view right now is that Parliament should be supreme.

Other than the referendum, what's next on the agenda. I do hate to switch gears so quickly, but we're short on time?

Well, we'll be introducing legislation to revise the tax code, as well as the budget debate coming up in the next month. I also am going to have a meeting with the Austerainian Grand Chancellor at some point soon to discuss a new trade deal. It'll be a busy few months for us coming up.

Thank you, Prime Minister. Now, I believe, we have some updated results, so let's get those up on the screen... No? I'm sorry, we don't have those updated results. Instead, in Valentine, Mark Richardson is with the Leader of the Opposition, David Duncan. Mark?

Thank you, Howard. I'm here with Centrist Reform Party Leader David Duncan in Valentine. David, why not be across the country in Frederick for the results?

Well Mark, I had a constituency meeting scheduled for today and I couldn't miss it.

How do you feel about the results of the referendum as they stand currently? The CRP has seemed publicly very conflicted about it.

Well, to an extent that's true. There are many CRP members who support retaining the Emperor, but there are also many who favor abolition.

Is it difficult to walk the line of an avowedly centrist party on an issue like this?

No, because I agreed that the office needs to be abolished, I just didn't support the slipshod manner in which the government went about it. Sir Roger has frequently capitulated to the interests of the liberals and gone against any sensible policy that the SDP had offered on this when he decided not to add a second question to the referendum on the election of a new Head of State.

You feel that one is necessary?

I do, because it's an important check on any future PM's power. Whether you're on the left or on the right in the CRP, we all agree that checks and balances are necessary in a government.

Hypothetically, if this referendum were to fail, and that looks increasingly unlikely as the results come in, do you think that the government would be obliged to call a general election?

I do, and let me tell you why. Abolition was a central promise made by both the SDP and the SLP during the election. We in the CRP felt there were more important issues to discuss, but it was Roger Owen who made the issue a paramount issue, and it's an issue that his government must live and die with. It would prove that he no longer had the confidence of the electorate and to that end, a new election would be necessary.

If you were to win the next election, Mr. Duncan, will you make a deal with John Buttons and the PAP? Or will you look to another party?

Much too early to think about that.

Thank you, Mr. Duncan. 

[Lawattsia]

I'm just getting word now that the final results are in from the western coast cities of Kent and Valentine and that here in Frederick we're only a few counting houses away from our final results. Before we get those final results in, I want to go back to Bob Kelsey. We've heard from all the party leaders this evening and we're getting a real sense of what the debates in the next Parliament are going to be on this issue, are we not?

Yes indeed, Howard. Even with the last results coming in, we're almost surely all aware of what the final result is going to be. I think everyone knows that tomorrow morning, the monarchy will be dissolved and I'm certain that the Emperor will formally abdicate with all haste, because the results lead all of us to believe that it's a landslide in favor of abolition.

Bob, what do you think will be the policy with regards to a Head of State? You've been watching politics for a long time, what will the parties do, do you think?

Well, I think we're going to have a general election very, very soon. As if the public hasn't already been worn out with the long referendum campaign. I mean, I enjoy general elections myself, but most of the public probably don't.

So, you believe there has to be a general election over the issue of a Head of State?

Not so much that, Howard, as the fact that the SDP and SLP disagree completely on the need for one. Sir Roger has been trying to placate the junior partners in his coalition, but it's clear that others in the party like the Finance Chancellor Harry Eckhardt and the Foreign Minister Colin Elliott both believe strongly in the idea of a Head of State, and they're on opposite "factions" if you like to use the term, in the SDP. It's the SLP group, primarily led by the Internal Affairs Minister Lionel Hogan, that opposes a Head of State and believes that Parliament's decision making as a whole is paramount.

Do you think Sir Roger would want to avoid an election and take up a partnership with the Centrist Reformers if the Social Liberals withdrew their support?

I don't think that's likely, as the PM has made plain that he didn't like working with the CRP when he was the Education Minister in a SDP-CRP government. I think Sir Roger trusts his charisma and his connection with the public in an election before jettisoning a partnership that overall has worked quite well in exchange for one that probably wouldn't...

Bob, I'm going to to interrupt you here, I hate to do so, but I've gotten word that the final results overall are in. We're going to place them up on the screen now for everyone to see...

FAVOR ABOLITION  226,781,976

RETAIN MONARCHY  149,587,038

So there we are, Bob. A resounding victory for the Abolition of the Emperor. I don't know whether I can convey properly the history that we've just witnessed as more than a thousand years of tradition has been changed. I think on both sides there's bound to be quite a bit of emotion, be it jubilation or sadness. Bob, before we sign off for the evening, I want to thank you for joining us for this important coverage of the 2017 Lawattsian Referendum. I imagine in the next couple of days we will see even more history made, with the Emperor formally resigning. I've lived through three Emperors now and it's a bit odd for me to think that there won't be another one, but the Lawattsian public, you, have made your choice and I am grateful to have been here to cover it. For Mark Richardson, Kay Stevenson, and Bob Kelsey, this is Howard McMahon wishing you a very good night.

[Lawattsia]

OOC: Overall, I'm going to ask everyone's opinions on this story. Please let me know. Any feedback on it is welcome.

[Odd Republic]

The Oddish People's Parliament applauds Lawattsia for their establishment of democracy.

[Austerain]

Grand Chancellor Sarah Versace and the National Congress of Austerain have voiced their support for Lawattsia's decision (all except of course the monarchist Conservative Royalist Party). Versace herself on Twitter said "We congratulate the people of Lawattsia on successfully voting out the monarchy! The question now is the head of state #DemocracyWins" and the Speaker of the National Congress Gov. Clara England said that "it's a great day for democracy for the Lawattsian people".

[New Ireland and Wales]

President Edwards and Speaker Duncan have expressed great delight over the decision of the Lawattsian people. Having abolished our monarchy over 100 years ago it is good to see more nations doing it. We wish Lawattsia the best of luck in shaping their future.