STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF BRUSSELS
As the Minister is still at present a prisoner of de Broqueville and the Nationalists in Africa, we request official instructions as to how to proceed. If by-elections are needed, they should be initiated immediately.
- Jarvis van Dyke, Personal Secretary to Antoine Marie Stark-Moreau, Minister of Brussels
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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT
by Pierre Savarin
I have heard that bills have been proposed of late proposing to create a Republic by means of legislation. I have, in fact, read that docket of legislation extensively and find it to be an excellent summary of National Democratic Party policy for the past eighty years (barring the absurd proposition of integrating the Netherlands, of course.) I stand fully behind the bill in principle, but if we are to do this, let us do it correctly. The proper way to go about this is to call a constitutional convention. As a man who gave his all during two terms as Prime Minister trying to fight for a Republic, serving the now Duke of Luxembourg in bringing about a more egalitarian and fair state for all.
With that said, it is obvious to me that this bill will fail, and frankly almost deserves to. What Conservative - frankly, what Liberal Democrat - would stand behind a proposal throwing out the old order which we just fought tooth and nail to defend? I am not agreeing with these men. It is beyond proven that the King serves no function other than entrenching power by accident of birth. He does not unify the country - he could not stop the Fascists from committing treason, nor the Beauffortists before them. He doe snot bring stability. He does not bring compromise. Be that as it may, all good Republicans must recognize that one of the main virtues of our form of government is that anyone can rise to the top of society and all opinions must be respected and tolerated; we must, therefore, recognize that there are good men and women in this country who are not Republicans, and their opinions and voices deserve to be heard as much as any other person's. Moreover, only the Socialists and National Democrats will support a republican constitutional amendment. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will not, and it will therefore not pass. A Constitutional Convention, on the other hand, will give everyone something they want. Who among the Liberal Democrats would not appreciate the opportunity to grant proper governance and citizenship to the inhabitants of the Free Zone? Who among the Conservatives would disagree with shoring up our great Constitution to adequately provide law and order?
I ask you, therefore, to call a constitutional convention. Whether Belgium becomes a Republic or remains a monarchy, it is clear it needs a new Constitution for the new age. In the name of better, stronger and freer government, I hope you will listen.
- P. Savarin
A day after this letter was presented to the Parliament, several National Democratic Party deputies presented the following bill
Constitutional Convention Act
A Convention for the purpose of drafting a new Constitution for Belgium will be called at the time of the next dissolution of the Belgian Parliament. All sitting deputies not currently under indictment for collaboration with the Nationalist Revolt ((i.e. anyone who can currently vote)) will be allowed to participate.