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2007 Alslandic same-sex Marriage referendum

2007 Alslandic same-sex Marriage referendum
Should the United Provinces of Alsland allow marriage between same-sex couples?
Location	Alsland
Date	15 June 2007 (2007-06-15)
Results Votes % Yes 3,935,311 7001592600000000000♠59.26% No 2,705,508 7001407400000000000♠40.74% Valid votes 6,640,819 7001995600000000000♠99.56% Invalid or blank votes 29,151 6999440000000000000♠0.44% Total votes 6,669,970 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 7,963,944 7001837500000000000♠83.75%
Results by province How the electorate voted, by province. Proportion of the valid poll voting yes:
Source: Alslandic Government

The 2007 Alslandic Same-Sex Marriage referendum took place on 15 June 2007 in Alsland to ask the electorate whether Alsland should legalise same-sex marriages. Prior to the referendum same-sex couples were allowed to enter civil unions and foreign marriages were recognised. The government of Jabik Nieuwenhuis promised a referendum on same-sex marriage in their manifesto for the 2006 legislative election. The referendum resulted in 59.3% of votes being cast in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The resulting Marriage Act 2007, commonely known as the Metyller Law, was passed nearly unanimously in the Folkssenaat and was signed by President Onne Monsma on 11 August 2007. The first same-sex marriage ceremony in Alsland occurred on 29 December 2007.

Support and Opposition

Party positions

Position	Political parties
Yes		Worker's Party
		Civic Initiative
		Liveable Delland
		Party for Freedom and Democracy
		Kirenian People's Party
		Maitiid
		Progressive Holsteen
		Social Democrats of Swerdia
		Social Democrats of Delland
		Green-Alternative Choice
		ASAY
		Left list
		Swerdian Nationalist List
		Estmerish Alliance
No		Union of Sotirians and Democrats
		Sotirian People's Party
		Orange Party
No official stance		Humanist Sotirian Union
		Weranian People's Party

Public opinion

Date	Firm	Yes	No	Undecided	Sample size
11–14 June 2007	ANS	55%	42%	3%	1,000
2–8 June 2007	Hjoed	62%	38%	-	1,200
25–30 May 2007	TBD	56%	42%	2%	1,200
26–29 May 2007	Hjoed	60%	40%	-	1,000
19–24 May 2007	TBD	54%	46%	-	1,730
10–14 May 2007	JaAlslân	59%	39%	2%	1,500
2–6 May 2007	Yndyktinkt	66%	30%	4%	1,800
15-20 April 2007	TBD	52%	45%	3%	1,000
4-8 April 2007	TBD	56%	44%	-	1,200
25-27 March 2007	TBD	57%	40%	3%	1,250
20-23 March 2007	Hjoed	60%	40%	-	1,500

Campaign

Advertising

The Televyzjetoer and Sint Paulustsjerke in Yndyk

* Dispute between Church of Delland and Yes voters over pride flag on Televyzjetoer

Result

National result

2007 Alslandic Same-sex Marriage referendum

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	3,935,311	59.3
No	2,705,508	40.7
Valid votes	6,640,819	99.6
Invalid or blank votes	29,151	0.4
Total votes	6,669,970	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	7,963,944	83.8

Referendum results

Yes: 3,935,311 (59.3%)	No: 2,705,508 (40.7%)
▲

Result by Province

Breakdown of voting by province

Province	Yes		No		Invalid
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Delland	950,928	63.2%	541,668	36%	0.8%
Fawkhamshire	378,737	54.8%	310,315	44.9%	0.3%
Garz	580,737	55.4%	480,104	45.8%	0.8%
Hamptonshire	591,191	61.2%	364,181	37.7%	1.1%
Martiland	284,287	51.8%	260,688	47.5%	0.7%
Middewald	352,279	65.3%	185,040	34.3%	0.4%
Yndyk	378,286	71.3%	149,086	28.1%	0.6%
Zittau	418,866	49.8%	420,592	50%	0.2%

Aftermath

Reactions

Upon the announcement that the yes campaign had won, Premier Jabik Nieuwenhuis said "The message is clear and we as a nation have decided to agree that all humans no matter who they love deserve the same rights as everyone else. I urge both campaigns to come together and work together to pass legislation ensuring same-sex marriage is legalised." Nieuwenhuis later addressed a Yes campaign rally in Yndyk congratulating staff members involved in the campaign.

Head of the Federal Presidency Onne Monsma said "The people and voters have spoken and they have made it quite clear that they wish to legalise same-sex marriage in Alsland. I look forward to working with the legislature to deliver the results of this referendum."

Talk show host Alker Groen proposed to his partner live on air after the results were announced. Groen and his partner converted their civil union to a marriage in December 2007.

Lennard Bernauer who led the No campaign said in a television interview with ANS on the day following the referendum "I'm obviously disappointed with the result but we live in a democratic society and this was a democratic vote. But any law to legalise homosexual marriage must take into account people's religious views, we cannot force churches for example to go against church teachings and practice these acts."

Journalist Gabriel Weiskopf suggested that Zittau should refuse to practice same-sex marriages following the result. Weiskopf said "the voters in Zittau do not agree with same-sex marriage being implemented and [Jabik] Nieuwenhuis should affirm this and allow for the current practice of civil unions for same-sex couples to continue in Zittau." Minister-President of Zittau Konrad Dünhaupt said that the provincial government would respect the referendum result.

The Church of Delland acknowledged the result but reaffirmed it's position that marriage was between a man and a woman. The Reformed Church of Holsteen's Moderator said "The RKH will continue to believe that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman, any changes to the teachings of the church must be voted on by the General Assembly." The Church of Martiland and Lanekirik said "the church is deeply disappointed that the institution of marriage will no longer reflect the Sotirian interpretation that it is between a man and a woman." In 2016 the Church of Martiland and Lanekirik began allowing same-sex marriages.

Criticism

Plans to hold a referendum were criticised by several LGBT rights advocacy groups who called the decision to have the majority vote on the rights of a minority group. During initial debates on holding a referendum, Senator Emo Akkerman who is openly Bisexual said that holding a referendum could set a dangerous precedence for other countries to deny LGBT citizens their rights if a referendum is held. Akkerman voted to hold the referendum during the vote on the issue.

In 2011, Premier Jonathan Fraser criticised the move to hold a referendum saying that the process would have been much faster had the Marriage Act 2007 been voted on in the Folkssenaat where there was overwhelming support for it. Fraser was outed as Gay in 2003 and was one of the most prominent figures within the 'Yes' campaign.

Alsland in the Great War

Yndyk residents during the general strike

Despite declaring neutrality upon the outbreak of the Great War, Alsland was invaded by Gaullica from occupied Estmere in August 1929. In a period of 29 days much of Alsland was invaded and occupied by the advancing Gaullican army with little to no resistance. Members of the Alslandic government, led by Villem Mand, fled the country for Werania on 29 August. Later that day the remaining government in Yndyk surrendered to the Gaullican army to prevent the destruction of the city. Before the surrender, thousands of Alslandic refugees crossed into Kirenia and Werania.

Whilst initially the civilian government was allowed to remain albeit with a functionalist presence, it was overthrown by functionalist paramilitaries. Alsland was figuratively split into 4 varyingly autonomous zones controlled by the Gaullican army from Rahu representing each language group in Alsland. Passive resistance grew during the occupation and played a key role in opposing the Gaullican occupation. After conscription was introduced by the collaborationist government, a general strike was declared.

Alsland was liberated by primarily Kirenian forces in late 1934 after the battles of Yndyk and Wottested.

Background

Neutrality

• Immediate declaration of neutrality
• Border defences
• Estmerish refugees

Fears of a Weranian invasion

• Government fearing a Weranian invasion and spending significant resources defending northern border
• Closer ties to Kirenia

Gaullican invasion

Neeves campaign

• Initial invasion
• Neeves defence
• Battle of Ilfracombe
• Air raids over Yndyk and Hurdegaryp
• Weranian army enters Alsland

Collapse of the armed forces and government

• Neeves breakthrough
• Refugee crisis
• Blitz to Yndyk
• Mand flees, government surrenders and resigns

Gaullican occupation

Coup

• Civilian government overthrown by functionalists
• Functionalist government
• Occupation zones

Collaboration

• Functionalist movements
• Armed forces participation

Resistance

• Councilist resistance
• Acts of sabotage
• Resistance acts
• Assassinations of government and occupation figures
• 'Free Zittau'

Alslandic government in exile

• Mand's government
• Disagreements with Werania
• Sidelined

Liberation

• Kirenian involvement
• Weranian counter-offensive through Alsland

Wottested campaign

• Battle of Yndyk
• Kirenian advance towards Wottested
• Linking up with resistance
• Battle of Wottested
• Surrender of Gaullicans in Alsland

Casualties

• Casualties
• Liberation casualties

Post-war

• Attempts to get reparations
• Closer ties to Kirenia than Estmere etc
• Language laws and federalisation

26th Government of Alsland

Sokk Cabinet
26th Cabinet of United Provinces of Alsland
Date formed	X September 2022
People
Head of state	President Hepke Veltman
Head of government	Kairi Sokk (TFA)
Deputy head of government	Deputy Premiers Liekele Ykema (LA) August Wirz (LA) Griġm Holt (TFA) Urmas Korjus (KRP)
No. of ministers	Premier + 14 ministers
Total no. of members	15
Member party	52 / 201 Together for Alsland (TFA) 45 / 201 Liveable Alsland (LA) 10 / 201 Kirenian People's Party (KRP)
Status in legislature	Majority government 107 / 201
Opposition cabinet	None
History
Election(s)	2022 election
Legislature term(s)	27th Folkssenaat
Predecessor	25th Government of Alsland
Successor	27th Government of Alsland

26th Government of Alsland (also known as the Sokk cabinet) was formed after the 2022 election in Alsland. It is comprised of 15 ministers including the Premier, Kairi Sokk.

History

Shortly after the initial results were released from the 2022 Alslandic legislative election, Together for Alsland and Liveable Alsland announced their intention to enter a coalition with each other to pursue constitutional reforms. The opposition parties all conceded defeat to the two parties and allowed coalition negotiations to commence. The 26th Government of Alsland was invested on X September 2022 after successful coalition negotiations between Together for Alsland, Liveable Alsland and the Kirenian People's Party, a non-portfolio role was given to independent ex-Labour Affairs minister Urjo Eenpalu. As part of the coalition deal the KRP would be represented in the Cabinet and support government policy.

Investiture Kairi Sokk (TFA)
Ballot →		X September 2022
Required majority →		101 out of 201 Y
	Yes • TFA (52) • LA (45) • KRP (10)	107 / 201
	No • ASAY (28) • HSU (23) • OP (17) • NB (15) • PA (9) • GAK (4)	94 / 201
Sources: Folkssenaat

Composition

Government

The coalition deal between the three parties gave Together for Alsland 7 positions - not including the role of Premier - which had been given to the party's chairwoman Kairi Sokk, Liveable Alsland would have 5 cabinet positions and the Kirenian People's Party would have 1 cabinet position. The new cabinet also included the Department for Constitutional Reforms which would oversee the planned constitutional convention process.

Position	Name	Party		Office
				Start date	End date
Premier	Kairi Sokk		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Deputy Premier(s)
Minister of the Environment	Griġm Holt		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Federal Affairs	Urmas Korjus		Kirenian People's Party	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Liekele Ykema		Liveable Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Health	Rykholt Schaap		Liveable Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Ministers
Minister for Constitutional Reforms	Karl Muff		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Culture	Edmer Fisċer		Liveable Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Defence	Alfbryht Dėaher		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Education	Annalena Merkel		Liveable Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Finance	Sjitske Nauta		Liveable Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Justice	Sjoek Wijma		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Social Affairs	Eeuwkje Minnema		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister of Transport	Sekou Bayero		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Ministers without portfolio
Minister for Digital Alsland	Seftvyn Bȧso		Together for Alsland	X September 2022	Present
Minister for Government Accountability and transparency	Urjo Eenpalu		Independent	X September 2022	Present