((Voting closed. You have voted to crown Prince Francis. Update tomorrow or Saturday, as the case may be.))
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Congratulations to Prince Francis. Differing sentiments on the republican question aside, I hope your reign is a prosperous and productive one.
I also have a statement to make to the parliament. I was unsure if holding a referendum before the next election would be wise, considering the exhaustive efforts we have put into it only to fall into endless obstruction. I fully support General Thaddee's measure, and hope it may be brought to a vote. That being said, Minister de Graaf and I have spent a massive amount of time working with Pyotr Aerts and other members of the Regalist Union, and we have created something else the body may find interesting: a compromise proposal for an elected Senate. This proposal, co-written by Monsieurs de Graaf and Aerts, will hopefully be agreeable to all, and we will finally be able to eliminate one of the last remnants of aristocracy in our government. Please consider it.
- Pierre Savarin, P.M.
--
STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Minister of War's proposals for the construction of the "de Graaf Line" are approved. Construction shall begin immediately. Finance Minister Renaud is strongly encouraged to provide whatever funds are necessary for the construction of fortified encampments as laid out by the War Ministry.
I also have a statement to make to the parliament. I was unsure if holding a referendum before the next election would be wise, considering the exhaustive efforts we have put into it only to fall into endless obstruction. I fully support General Thaddee's measure, and hope it may be brought to a vote. That being said, Minister de Graaf and I have spent a massive amount of time working with Pyotr Aerts and other members of the Regalist Union, and we have created something else the body may find interesting: a compromise proposal for an elected Senate. This proposal, co-written by Monsieurs de Graaf and Aerts, will hopefully be agreeable to all, and we will finally be able to eliminate one of the last remnants of aristocracy in our government. Please consider it.
- Pierre Savarin, P.M.
--
STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Minister of War's proposals for the construction of the "de Graaf Line" are approved. Construction shall begin immediately. Finance Minister Renaud is strongly encouraged to provide whatever funds are necessary for the construction of fortified encampments as laid out by the War Ministry.
Last edited:
I would ask this this proposal be amended to include Prince Francis' suggestion of a non-partisan Senate rather than a partisan Senate elected by party lines. We do not need an additional partisan chamber, the Senate should be elected but directly and not by party.
I call upon the Prime Minister to make these changes to the constitution require the ratification of the people in a popular referendum within 12 months before they can come into effect.
If I may, I feel I should ask once again where M. Savarin stands with regards to dissolving parliament. I feel the issue has, as yet, been pushed aside – something which does our now greatly expanded franchise a grave injustice.
The Hon. J. B. H. Van der Wyngaert
Amedee addresses the parliament from his chair while eating dinner
I heartily approve of the new measures for a Senate. However, I disagree with the sentiment that it must be non-partisan. I fail to see how it can be non-partisan if elections are involved. The candidates will have to state their beliefs, and what candidate can win an election without some measure of party support in regards to organization and funding?
I am disappointed in the ascension of our new monarch. It is nothing personal, as he seems like a decent enough fellow. I will not leave this building until we enact a republic, however.
-Amedee Dupointe
I heartily approve of the new measures for a Senate. However, I disagree with the sentiment that it must be non-partisan. I fail to see how it can be non-partisan if elections are involved. The candidates will have to state their beliefs, and what candidate can win an election without some measure of party support in regards to organization and funding?
I am disappointed in the ascension of our new monarch. It is nothing personal, as he seems like a decent enough fellow. I will not leave this building until we enact a republic, however.
-Amedee Dupointe
Royal Coronation of 1898: Francis I
1. Francis I, in military uniform
After a reign of twenty-six years, almost to the day, Prosper-August abdicated the Belgian throne in favor of a republic - knowing full well that whatever his wishes, a republic would not follow him. Pierre d'Arenberg was largely expected to follow Prosper-August as the next King of Belgium, but fate and public opinion were not on his side. The former Prince-Regent was regarded as old-fashioned, bordering on reactionary, and had taken much of the blame for Belgian colonial mismanagement owing to his close personal ties to Belgian Africa. Owing to objects from the left and center, the Belgian parliament refused to crown Pierre d'Arenberg, making him the first heir apparent in Belgian history that the parliament had turned away.
His second-eldest son, Francis d'Assise[1] (François d'Arenberg) was eventually determined to be the next in line for the Belgian throne. The Prince was largely an unknown to the greater Belgian public when presented himself at the Palace of the Nation. A parliamentary panel interviewed him; in the aftermath, the panel described him as "something of a liberal monarchist." Prince Francis voiced his support for the continuation of the monarchy and senatorial reform, and expressed strong opinions on various military and diplomatic matters. His positions won him broad support in the Belgian parliament, satisfying both the right and the center-left - only the radically republican BSU voted against him in meaningful numbers, and the Parliament moved to crown him King of Belgium. After just under a month of confused interregnum, François d'Arenberg was crowned King Francis I of Belgium by the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels on October 2nd, 1898.
In the aftermath of the coronation, the LDP leadership again called on Pierre Savarin to dissolve the government. Though Belgian law had no conventions regarding the expansion of the franchise, the LDP had argued that a new election should be held ever since the passage of the Women's Suffrage Amendment. They redoubled their calls in the wake of King Francis' coronation. Pierre Savarin did not initially respond, instead calling a vote on an elected senate amendment and several other pieces of legislation that had stalled during the interregnum.
[1] "d'Assise" was a nickname given to him by his extremely catholic elder brother Philippe. Francis' fondness for vacationing in northern Italy led Philippe to jokingly dub him "Francis d'Assise" after Saint Francis; the name stayed with him through later life
-------------------------
Player Actions Needed:
Vote on the [post=17149857]Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898[/post], [post=17118183]Cognatic Succession Amendment[/post], [post=17126702]Referendum Amendment[/post].
The King has objected to the proposal on the removal of noble titles and it will not be voted on.
Sample Ballot:
[post=17149857]Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=17118183]Cognatic Succession Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=17126702]Referendum Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[BSU/RU/NDP/GLP/LDP/BCU/SDP] ((<-Don't forget this!))
This vote will end in two days, at 8 PM PDT 3/30 (or 3 AM GMT, 3/31, assuming the device remains inactive).
His Majesty The King of Belgium, Francis I
(Excerpt from the King's coronation address)
"I thank the people and the parliament of Belgium for the trust they have placed in me. I promise that my reign will bring Belgium security and prosperity as we move into the new century.
To my father, I say that you are not forgotten - to me, least of all. I will rely on your expertise to guide Belgian policy in the colonies and abroad. To my royal cousin, Prosper-August, who has left the Belgian throne vacant - if you will accept it, I offer you the title of Duke of Luxembourg - and I wish you and your wife happiness. And to the people of Belgium, I promise you a bright future under sensible, enlightened leadership."
(Excerpt from a later letter to Pierre Savarin)
"Prime Minister,
I wish to once again reiterate my desire for an apolitical senate. It has come to my attention that you have recently proposed an amendment that would eliminate the senate's constitutional obligation to remain nonpartisan. Though I will not veto this amendment, I look on it unfavorably."
Mijnheer Dupointe's concerns are indeed valid. Elected Senate will always be partisan, and I fail to see why this is a problem. After all, parties are here to represent popular views, and the role of Senate as the controlling legislative body will not be harmed. Mijnheer Aerts and me together even made efforts to expand its controlling powers.
Later, de Graaf met with several Army officers responsible for the construction works on the fortification line:
The line should stretch from the coast south of Antwerp and protect the line just before Tournai, Charleroi and Namur. This area shoud have the highest priority, and the line needs to include heavy fortifications and heavy artillery positions. The second area contains Arlon and Luxembourg - given the nature of terrain in Ardennes, the plan relies on lighter objects and positions in the forests close to the borderline and next to all major roads and railways. Heavy objects should only provide cover for the most crucial points like crossroads and importants routes to the mainland. The forests in Ardennes provide a decent defensive terrain on their own, so this area should have a secondary priority. Finally, as the tertiary priority, several smaller defensive objects shall cover the outskirts of Brussels and the borderline with Germany around Spa.
I fully understand that this is possibly the largest construction project Belgium has ever saw, but I urge you all to do your best and complete at least the key fortifications as soon as possible. The situation in Europe is, as all of you gentlemen know, getting trickier and trickier, and we may soon find ourselves at war. I still believe it can and will be avoided, but you know... Si vis pacem, para bellum. I will reduce the military spending to 60%, in order to help Mijnheer Renard with the construction costs.
Later, de Graaf met with several Army officers responsible for the construction works on the fortification line:
The line should stretch from the coast south of Antwerp and protect the line just before Tournai, Charleroi and Namur. This area shoud have the highest priority, and the line needs to include heavy fortifications and heavy artillery positions. The second area contains Arlon and Luxembourg - given the nature of terrain in Ardennes, the plan relies on lighter objects and positions in the forests close to the borderline and next to all major roads and railways. Heavy objects should only provide cover for the most crucial points like crossroads and importants routes to the mainland. The forests in Ardennes provide a decent defensive terrain on their own, so this area should have a secondary priority. Finally, as the tertiary priority, several smaller defensive objects shall cover the outskirts of Brussels and the borderline with Germany around Spa.
I fully understand that this is possibly the largest construction project Belgium has ever saw, but I urge you all to do your best and complete at least the key fortifications as soon as possible. The situation in Europe is, as all of you gentlemen know, getting trickier and trickier, and we may soon find ourselves at war. I still believe it can and will be avoided, but you know... Si vis pacem, para bellum. I will reduce the military spending to 60%, in order to help Mijnheer Renard with the construction costs.
Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898: Abstain
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Abstain
Referendum Amendment: Aye
[SDP]
~ Georges Poirot, Deputy for Mons and Leader of the SDP
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Abstain
Referendum Amendment: Aye
[SDP]
~ Georges Poirot, Deputy for Mons and Leader of the SDP
Most of these proposals are immensely stupid and injurious to Belgium to varying degrees; I suppose the succession proposal is the most reasonable of the lot, but the other two are without a doubt horrific amendments, and I suggest to all my fellow conservatives to block their passage.
Joint Elected Senate Amendment: Nay
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Abstain
Referendum Amendendment: Nay
[RU]
~ Lt. General P.M. Pilon
((I totally had my party listed... totally))
Joint Elected Senate Amendment: Nay
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Abstain
Referendum Amendendment: Nay
[RU]
~ Lt. General P.M. Pilon
((I totally had my party listed... totally))
Last edited:
Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898: NO
I must oppose this amendment because not only because it proposes to make the Senate partisan but hyper-partisan but having voters choose a party rather than individual candidates. The last thing we need is Senators selected by the parties rather than independent senators directly chosen by the people. What is the point of a Senate identical to this house? I urge all to reject this amendment.
Cognatic Succession Amendment: NO
Referendum Amendment: NO
We have just crowned a new King, what a way to welcome him.
[MLP]
Henri Renard - Deputy for Liege
I must oppose this amendment because not only because it proposes to make the Senate partisan but hyper-partisan but having voters choose a party rather than individual candidates. The last thing we need is Senators selected by the parties rather than independent senators directly chosen by the people. What is the point of a Senate identical to this house? I urge all to reject this amendment.
Cognatic Succession Amendment: NO
Referendum Amendment: NO
We have just crowned a new King, what a way to welcome him.
[MLP]
Henri Renard - Deputy for Liege
Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898: Abstain
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Yes
Referendum Amendment: Abstain
[LDP]
I stress that with the exception of the Cognatic Succession Amendment the abstentions are tentative and subject to change. Also I would like to accept the invitation to join to the Portician Society as part of the Board of Governors.
I, Vice Admiral John Dieric, do solemnly swear and affirm before the Almighty God, and by my honour and my conscience, that as a constant and faithful citizen of the Kingdom of Belgium: I shall serve my country honestly, rightfully and impartially, for the sake of the citizens and the realm, and shall forever pursue her elevation and advancement; and that in every circumstance, through war and through peace, I shall uphold the indissoluble bond of the Kingdom, her legal system of government and the constitutional order of the realm, and shall resist all efforts, interior and exterior, flagrant and insidious, to subvert this nation and its people.
~ Vice-Admiral John Dieric
Cognatic Succession Amendment: Yes
Referendum Amendment: Abstain
[LDP]
I stress that with the exception of the Cognatic Succession Amendment the abstentions are tentative and subject to change. Also I would like to accept the invitation to join to the Portician Society as part of the Board of Governors.
I, Vice Admiral John Dieric, do solemnly swear and affirm before the Almighty God, and by my honour and my conscience, that as a constant and faithful citizen of the Kingdom of Belgium: I shall serve my country honestly, rightfully and impartially, for the sake of the citizens and the realm, and shall forever pursue her elevation and advancement; and that in every circumstance, through war and through peace, I shall uphold the indissoluble bond of the Kingdom, her legal system of government and the constitutional order of the realm, and shall resist all efforts, interior and exterior, flagrant and insidious, to subvert this nation and its people.
~ Vice-Admiral John Dieric
Last edited:
I must have failed to clearly convey myself. I do not think it is a problem if the Senate becomes partisan. I was merely replying to a minister who wished to add a non-partisan guarantee to the new bill, which seemed very odd to me as I could not see how an elected Senate would not be partisan.
Your defensive line is a work of genius, by the way.
Joint Elected Senate Amendment of 1898: AYE
Cognatic Succession Amendment: AYE
Referendum Amendment: AYE
[BSU]
-Amedee Dupointe
I cannot vote for this unless this is changed to universal suffrage, we cannot deny women to vote if they can already do so.
Cognatic Succession Amendment: AYE
Referendum Amendment: AYE
BSU
Jean di Picardie. Deputy pour Artois.
Last edited:
Are we a democracy or not? If the king gets the right to veto proposals, then he should be 6 feet under.
- Josef de Leeuw
- Josef de Leeuw
Preaching treason again, eh? How long before you and your Legion are up in arms again?
~ Lt. General P.M. Pilon
Nous ne sommes pas Nepoléon.
((We are't Napoleon, It sounds cooler in French))
Jean di Picardie, Le député pour Artois.
Last edited:
((You might want to add a translation there. I can understand you perfectly, but solely foreign-language posts are against the rules in the English-language forums.
))
No, none of you are... perhaps that's why the monarchy still survives, despite your "best efforts."
~ Lt. General P.M. Pilon