Oportian special national referendum, 1722
The 1722 Oportian special national referendum was a landmark event in the history of Oportia, conducted concurrently with the special general election that saw Céline Beaumont elected as the Federal Representative of Oportia. This referendum was a response to the 1721 Oportian protests and a step towards stabilizing and advancing the nation's political and economic framework to bring a dire economic and political crisis to a decisive end.
Background
The Federal Electorate of Oportia overwhelmingly voted in the special emergency referendum of 1722 to impeach Federal Representative César André and the entire Federal Cabinet, after his government decided to go against the Federal Electorate's decision to vote in the Xaiville Convention to lift diplomatic and economic sanctions on Floria following various incidents such as its unprovoked invasion of Port Balaine and its intervention in Ostland during the global Wars of the Dispossessed, where it used biological and chemical weapons. The removal of the entire government led to the selection of diplomat Céline Beaumont, as caretaker Federal Representative, given temporary power to appoint a caretaker government until a special general election could be held in 1722 AN.
During the initial period of the caretaker Federal Representative role, Beaumont issued an executive order applied to herself and to the Federal Cabinet of Oportia that established basic principles for the caretaker government, restricting it to a consultative and provisional capacity while the special election of 1722 AN was being organized. The order restricted the ability of the government to initiate any new policy initiatives or major policy changes, but the time allowed Beaumont to assemble a plan of governance and reform following rounds of meetings with New Alexandrian and Constancian diplomats, Oportian legislatures and community leaders, and important business magnates and figures. This led to the proposal of a new Constitution and a set of major economic reforms to help stabilize the health of Oportia's economy. The proposed changes aimed to transition Oportia from a semi-direct democracy to a functioning constitutional republic that retained significant elements of direct democracy.
During the time leading up to the campaign, Beaumont secured the endorsement of the referendum's measures by her rivals in the Green Party, the Worker's Unity Party, and Sophie Marchand, a rising independent candidate for Federal Representative.
Referendum Questions
The referendum posed two critical questions to the Oportian electorate:
Question 1: New Constitution
- Voters were asked to approve a new Constitution that redefined Oportia as a constitutional republic and enshrined key human rights.
- This new Constitution created the Congress of Oportia, a nationally elected bi-cameral legislature with two chambers, a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate;
- Granted right of legal residents of Oportia to vote in local elections only;
- Established an expanded Declaration of Rights, Liberties, and Responsibilities, including LGBTQ+ protections;
- Retained the Federal Electorate of Oportia as a key element of Oportian direct democracy, allowing citizens to propose and vote on laws, public initiatives, recalls, and referendums;
- Established a right for legal residents and citizens of Oportia only of secrecy, including bank secrecy, making it a criminal offence for banks to reveal client data without permission.
- Established a run-off system for the election of Federal Representative of Oportia, requiring a candidate must win 50% + 1 of the vote to win outright to avoid a second election between the top two candidates.
Question 2: Economic Reforms
- The second question focused on economic restructuring. It proposed the establishment of a progressive taxation system to create a more equitable economic environment.
- Additionally, it introduced a government program for unemployed Oportians, the Opportunity Jobs Program, offering them opportunities to participate in infrastructure and community improvement projects, providing temporary employment and aiding public sector development.
Results
The referendum saw a high voter turnout, with the majority voting in favor of both the new Constitution and the economic reforms. This outcome signified a crucial turning point for Oportia, aligning it closer to modern democratic practices and addressing the urgent need for economic stabilization. The referendum campaign saw the Liberal Progressive Party (led by Céline Beaumont), the Green Party (led by Léa Dubois), and the Worker's Unity Party (led by François Delacroix) support the new Constitution and the proposed economic packages. Henri LaCarte and his Conservative Nationalist Party led the opposition to both measures of the referendum, as well as to the success of Céline Beaumont in the concurrent special election.
The referendum was also credit for helping the candidacy of incumbent caretaker Federal Representative Céline Beaumont, who was seeking the post for the first time in her own right. She succeeded to the title after the impeachment of Federal Representative César André and the entire Oportian government following the 1721 Oportian protests. She won the election with 36% of the vote, leading her nearest rival, Henri LaCarte of the Conservative Nationalist Party, by 6 points.
| Question | Votes for 'Yes' (%) | Votes for 'No' (%) | Total Votes Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Constitution | 55% | 45% | 6,412,121 |
| Economic Reforms | 58% | 42% | 6,412,121 |
Aftermath
Following the referendum, Oportia entered a period of transition and stabilization. The Constitution had provided for a transitional period where the first general election under the new Constitution would be held in 1726 AN for the Federal Congress of Oportia and for Federal Representative of Oportia. Passage of the referendum's proposed reforms led to increased confidence from investors abroad, seeing a big increase in foreign investment from Nouvelle Alexandrie, Natopia, Constancia, the Benacian Union, and Zeed into Oportia. This led to the successful state visit of Céline Beaumont to Nouvelle Alexandrie in 1725 AN, which led to the Vanie Accords and the official accession of Oportia to the Euran Economic Union.
See also
