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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?
LocationAlsland Alsland
Date15 June 2007 (2007-06-15)
Results
Votes %
Yes 3,935,311 59.26%
No 2,705,508 40.74%
Valid votes 6,640,819 99.56%
Invalid or blank votes 29,151 0.44%
Total votes 6,669,970 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 7,963,944 83.75%
Results by province
2007 Alslandic Referendum.png
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.

Background

History

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

Yes Campaign

No Campaign

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

Abuse and vandalism

Mental health

Result

National result

2007 Alslandic Same-sex Marriage referendum
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed 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

Marriage Act 2007

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

26th Government of the Federal Republic of Alsland
Flag of Alsland.png
26th Cabinet of Federal Republic of Alsland
Volodymyr Zelensky met with Dutch PM Mark Rutte in occasion of possible Russian invasion (22).jpg
Date formed12 October 2022
People
Head of statePresident Hepke Veltman
Head of governmentLiekele Ykema (LA)
Deputy head of governmentDeputy Premiers
Kairi Sokk (TFA)
Elsert Wassenaar (ORP)
Hilda Schaaf (HSU)
Ottila Möller (PA)
No. of ministersPremier + 14 ministers
Total no. of members15
Member party
41 / 201
Liveable Alsland (LA)
32 / 201
Together for Alsland (TFA)
31 / 201
Orange Party (ORP)
15 / 201
Humanist Sotirian Union (HSU)
10 / 201
Progressive Alliance (PA)
Status in legislatureMajority government
129 / 201
Opposition cabinetNone
History
Election(s)2022 election
Legislature term(s)27th Folkssenaat
Predecessor25th Government of Alsland
Successor27th Government of Alsland

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

History

Background

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 rotation coalition with each other to pursue constitutional reforms. The two parties initially went into talks with the Orange Party to form a right-wing government led by Kairi Sokk. The talks were abandoned after the onset of the 2022 Alslandic financial crisis and instead talks shifted towards forming a national unity government. After a marathon meeting involving all major party leaders Kairi Sokk recommended to President Hepke Veltman to invite Liekele Ykema to form a government. Ykema agreed to lead the government shortly afterwards with the support of Together for Alsland, Orange Party, Humanist Sotirian Union and Progressive Alliance. The government would be a technocratic government that would sit only for the duration of the economic crisis before resigning to hold elections according to Liekele Ykema, unlike previous governments a key condition to the formation of the coalition was the introduction of a de facto directorial system as the Premier and Deputy-Premiers - styled as Co-Premiers - would have to make decisions together. The cabinet also agreed to pursue radical constitutional and electoral reforms before the end of it's term.

Investiture

Investiture
Liekele Ykema (LA)
Ballot → 7 October 2022
Required majority → 101 out of 201 ☑Y
Yes
129 / 201
No
69 / 201
Abstentions
3 / 201
Sources: Folkssenaat

Composition

Government

The coalition agreement meant that Liveable Alsland, Orange Party, Together for Alsland, HSU and the Progressive Alliance would all be represented by their candidates within the cabinet and all other positions would be held by unelected officials with expertise in their relative fields. University Professor Luka Bodenschatz was appointed to be Minister of Finance due to his expertise and knowlege in the field and was tasked with reducing Alsland's budget deficit and public debt as well as negotiating with the Euclean Conference for a potential bailout of Alsland's public debt.

Alongside this two non-portfolio positions were created: the position of Minister for Digital Alsland was given to Heli Jogi, a major financial backer of Together for Alsland and entrepreneur. Jogi was tasked with digitalising Alsland's government, society and promote digitalisation for private companies as well as public services such as education and healthcare. Jogi's appointment was criticised by some within Alliance who felt that it was a sign of the technology sector's influence over Together for Alsland and by extenension the government. Meanwhile the position of Minister for Government Accountability and transparency was created and given to former Labour Affairs minister and whistleblower Urjo Eenpalu. Eenpalu's position would be to increase government transparency and help legislate for reforms to improve government accountability.

Position Name Party Office
Start date End date
Premier Liekele Ykema Liveable Alsland 12 October 2022 Present
Deputy Premier(s)
Minister of Defence Ottila Möller Progressive Alliance 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Federal Affairs Hilda Schaaf Humanist Sotirian Union 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairi Sokk Together for Alsland 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Social Affairs Elsert Wassenaar Orange Party 12 October 2022 Present
Ministers
Minister for Constitutional Reforms Karl Muff Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Culture, Media, Technology and Sports Oberta Bron Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Finance Luka Bodenschatz Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Education Aaf de Boer Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of the Environment Sjitske Nauta Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Health Rykholt Schaap Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Justice Jörg Schöpfer Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister for Labour Affairs Heense Oosterhof Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Minister of Transport Sekou Bayero Independent 12 October 2022 Present
Ministers without portfolio
Minister for Digital Alsland Heli Jogi Together for Alsland 12 October 2022 Present
Minister for Government Accountability and transparency Urjo Eenpalu Eenpalu Network 12 October 2022 Present