2020 New Batavian constitutional referendum
| Do you approve the Constitution of the Fourth Republic? (Keurt u de Grondwet voor de Vierde Republiek goed?) | ||||
| Results | ||||
| Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 3,000,000 | 75% | ||
| No | 1,000,000 | 25% | ||
| Valid votes | 4,000,000 | 100% | ||
| Invalid votes | 0 | 0% | ||
| Total votes | 4,000,000 | 100% | ||
A referendum was being held from November 20 to November 30, 2020 to adopt a new constitution for the Islamic Internet Republic.
The question on the ballot was Keurt u de Grondwet voor de Vierde Republiek goed? (Do you approve the Constitution of the Fourth Republic?)
Background
On October 31, 2020 the MCS accepted the claim of the Government-in-Exile of the Islamic Internet Republic to the island of New Batavia. The main point of criticism before acceptance of the claim was the name of the nation. It was felt by some MCS members that there were too many real world references and that the nation was not "Micras" enough. Frans stressed he did not want to found an entirely new nation, but "really really" wanted a legal and historical link with the old IIR. The constitutional draft meets some of the criticism.
After the elections of a new Majlis-al-Shoera and a Sadr, a new constitution was adopted by the Majlis-al-Shoera on November 19, 2020. According to article 117 of the current constitution, the bill needed to be approved by a nationwide referendum. The referendum was being held under the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Code.
New constitution
The general lay-out and form of government of the Islamic Internet Republic was retained. The main amendments were:
- Renaming the country from Islamic Internet Republic to Islamic Republic of New Batavia
- Renaming the office of Sadr to President
- Removing the Holy Quran from the legislative hierarchy
- Reducing the Preamble to just one Quranic verse, thereby leaving the general provisions
- The provinces are no longer named in the constitution, leaving more room for the establishment of new provinces and new place names
Electoral Commission
The Sadr appointed to the Electoral Commission:
- Redouan van Lucerne, Grand Vizier
- Faisal Van Looveren, leader of the opposition
Positions
Both the Islamic Revolutionary Party and the Democratic Social Movement supported the new constitution.
The opposition, led by Faisal Van Looveren, called voters to vote against the proposal. He argued the removal of the Holy Quran from the legislative hierarchy was a mistake, since it removes one of the essential achievements of the Islamic revolution of 2010.
Result
The new constitution was approved on November 30, 2020 by 75% of the population.
