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IGS revisits Sheepleas despite heavy rain
The Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) today conducted an expedition to Sheepleas, attempting to retrace a route last taken in 2010.
In a sign of his continued involvement in some non-governmental institutions following the recent implementation of a regency, the expedition was led by Emperor Jonathan I, the Society’s Director-General.
The 2010 IGS expedition had first explored Sheepleas, a nature reserve in Surrey, before walking through woods and farmland in West Horsely, forming a figure-of-eight route centred on the 11th century St Mary’s Church.
However, today’s expedition was unable to follow the whole of 2010’s route due to torrential rain significantly impeding their progress. The expedition reached the church in double the time it had expected to take, and so had lunch there in the shelter of its porch before deciding to cancel the northern circuit of the route and head back via another path through the nature reserve.
Sheepleas is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, notable for the diversity of its plants and wildlife as well as being of geological interest.
Ten people were on today’s expedition. The IGS has conducted an expedition to areas of countryside in Surrey on the first Monday of May every year since 2009, with the exceptions of 2018, 2020 and 2021.
The Emperor and his parents were joined by Emperor Mother Margaret’s brother Lord Michael and his wife Lady Rosalind, as well as five members of Carshalton Methodist Church.
The heavy rain made it difficult for recording equipment to be used, but a short video of the expedition composed of what was able to be filmed will be uploaded in the coming days.
Emperor Jonathan I announces Regency
To the Empire and to the world, my greetings.
When I founded Austenasia with my family over fifteen years ago, I could never have imagined how our little country would one day prosper.
It has been a joy to watch this community we started grow right around the world, with people from all sorts of places and backgrounds taking a real interest in helping Austenasia to flourish.
I served under our first three Emperors as Prime Minister, and since 2013 I have ruled as Emperor myself.
Austenasia has been a huge part of my life for over fifteen years. However, as I approach my thirtieth birthday, it has become clear to me that, although I have spent half my life on helping to lead the Empire, I no longer have the time to dedicate to it that I once did.
Other aspects of my life require my attention and my dedication, and I cannot demand loyalty from subjects to a Throne the holder of which will only ever have a decreasing amount of time to give to them.
Austenasia began as a small, family project when I was thirteen, and it has far outgrown my wildest hopes for it. However, after several months of deep thought, I am certain in my conviction that it is time for my leadership to come to an end.
Although I had considered abdication, I cannot bring myself yet to sever completely the ties between myself and the country I have loved and governed for so long, or to disappoint so profoundly those who have asked me to reconsider.
Rather, I shall remain as titular Monarch, in name only, providing a continued link to the House of Austen and proof of my endorsement of the new Heir, Aggelos, to serve as Prince Regent.
Aggelos of Imvrassia has been an Austenasian for nearly seven years, has served in Parliament on two non-consecutive occasions, and has over a decade of experience as constitutional monarch of Imvrassia.
He has been appointed as Prince Regent by the Senate with my full and sincere backing, to rule as effective head of state. With the support of the Prime Minister, and with the members of the new Line of Succession able to serve as Counsellors of State if necessary, I am sure he will do a wonderful job.
His Imperial and Majestic Highness – as he shall be known in Austenasia, in deference to his Imvrassian throne – takes on the powers of the Austenasian Throne in their full. They are his to wield as they were mine, effective as of 10:00 UTC today.
Prince Regent Aggelos will need the support and respect of the Empire to fulfil this calling, and I ask all Austenasians and all our friends from abroad to give him our full support as he takes on this great responsibility. He has my full support and I trust the future is safe in his hands.
To all those who I have come to know through my time in office in Austenasia, I thank you for your friendship, and for the horizons that have been opened.
May God bless you all, and God save the Empire!
New land claims annexed from UK and Canada
Saturday 13th April saw further territorial expansion for the Empire of Austenasia, with two new sites being claimed.
The first, Garelsh, is comprised of the garden of a residential property in Marlow, in the British county of Buckinghamshire.
Garelsh has been annexed as a Territory, with its owner, the now Lord Oscar Owens, appointed its Baron and Governor. This marks the first expansion of Austenasia within the British Isles for roughly five years.
The second of the weekend’s annexations saw the new Territory of Glainamar gain an exclave, namely a woodland cabin situated roughly 7 miles to the west of the main territory.
This cabin, which is next to a pond, was built in the late 1970s by the family of Lord Griffin, Governor of Glainamar. The new addition will be known as the Glain Interior.
Line of Succession overhauled
The Senate has voted to completely overhaul the Line of Succession to the Throne, replacing the previous list of the Emperor’s relatives with a list of five trusted statesmen.
This dramatic change was made at the behest of Emperor Jonathan I himself.
The beginning of the year saw several members of the Line of Succession removed on the basis that they would be unlikely to accept the Throne and hard to contact at short notice. Today’s more radical change has been implemented on the grounds of the same principle, on the understanding that none of those previously in line to the Throne were interesting in actually ascending it in anything more than name should they be called upon to do so.
Five individuals were put forward by the Emperor and, after discussion in the Senate, confirmed as a new Line of Succession, namely:
- HM Emperor Aggelos I: The current monarch of Imvrassia, Aggelos I has been an Austenasian national since August 2017, initially representing the Town of Ionisia for a year in Parliament, and later standing in as Acting Representative of the Europe and Asia Division.
- Lord Michael Simpson, Count of Occibrazos: Since 2020, Lord Simpson has contributed more to the Empire in terms of territorial claims than any other person with the acquisition of Procyon, Florencium Carolina, Elliesium Colorandum, Golcondiarum, Rubrum Beryllium, and Navurania, all of which are his own privately-owned properties. Lord Simpson has also overseen the Precious Metals Account, which has already yielded substantial dividends for the Treasury.
- Lord Sander Koff, Duke of Aesti: Representative of Oppidum Tubae since June 2021 and Minister for Culture since January 2022, Lord Koff oversaw the creation of the Imperial University, and also serves as the constitutional monarch of Revalia.
- Lord William Wilson, Duke of Taysha: The previous Prime Minister (2021-24), and Representative of Nahona since January 2020, Lord Wilson also serves as King in Gradonia.
- HIM Emperor Adam I: Constitutional monarch of Adammia since 2013, a close friend (and distant relative) of Jonathan I, and long-time diplomatic partner of Austenasia.
The Constitution requires a reigning Monarch of Austenasia to a Christian, a requirement fulfilled by all the members of the new Line of Succession except for Adam I.
The previous heir, the Emperor’s sister, will now be known once more as Princess Caroline rather than as Crown Princess. Were he not already titled as an emperor, Aggelos would have assumed the title Crown Prince as the new Heir to the Throne.
Those in the Line of Succession are not only to be called upon should the Throne become empty, but are also able to take on responsibilities such as being appointed a Counsellor of State to assist the Monarch.
This change marks a move towards a more realistic approach to the Empire’s long-term future, with an active and committed future Monarch more likely to be found among those already dedicated to Austenasia than among relatives of Jonathan I, most of whom are aunts and cousins who are not even Austenasian.
New territory annexed from Canada
An Imperial Decree passed earlier today annexed a new territory to the Empire after its landowner claimed it for Austenasia.
Glainamar, the new claim, consists of a large plot of land within the garden of a neighbouring house, lived in by its now governor, Lord Anthony Griffin, and his family. The property as a whole has been owned by Lord Griffin’s family since 1956.
Lord Griffin is the legal owner of this section of the property, and is seeking to commence construction of a residence for himself on the land in 2026.
At present, however, the land is uninhabited, and so has been claimed as a Territory.
Glainamar is bordered by the Canadian town of Carbonear, in Newfoundland.
Lord John Gordon elected Prime Minister
Lord John Gordon, Viscount of Thetford, has been elected the seventh Prime Minister of the Empire of Austenasia, with 60.6% of the vote.
His rival candidate, Lord Andrew Creed, received 36.1% of the vote, whereas an option to Abstain – which, if it gained a majority, would have forced fresh elections – received 3.3% of the vote.
This translates to thirty seven and twenty two votes respectively from the sixty one Austenasian subjects who voted yesterday. With one hundred and eight of Austenasia’s population eligible to vote, this was a 56.5% turnout.
Lord Andrew Creed has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Lord Gordon.
Both Lord Gordon and Lord Creed have a long history in Austenasia. Lord Gordon is the longest continually serving Representative, having represented Palasia in Parliament since July 2013, whereas Lord Creed is the longest serving Governor, having administered Corinium Terentium since December 2013.
Lord John Gordon is the first former Prime Minister to resume the office, having also served from June 2020 to September 2021. This was a term feted for its political and cultural prosperity, the memory of which no doubt helped in his election.
Lord Gordon – who held office as Speaker during the previous government – is also known for his sense of humour, leading the effort to have baked beans declared Austenasia’s national dish in reference to an in-joke on the national Discord server, and adopting as his campaign portrait a photo with a highly edited hairstyle.
Lord Gordon’s campaign promised organising projects for Austenasians to work on to promote engagement with national life, an active approach to foreign affairs, promotion of Austenasia’s Roman heritage, and exploring initiatives to involve Austenasia with UN-related international bodies as some other small nations have done.
Constitutional amendments passed in referendum
The Third Amendment to the Austenasian Constitution of 2011 has been approved in referendum, with a majority of Austenasia’s subjects now having voted in support for the proposed changes.
The precise voting figures will be confirmed tomorrow morning, alongside the results of the ongoing election for Prime Minister.
However, the proposed amendments will now definitely pass, as the threshold has now been reached of over half of all Austenasian voters in support of them.
The Third Amendment consists of two parts. The first reforms parliamentary representation of non-residential subjects to a STV-based proportional list system, whereas the second is a combination of relatively minor reforms primarily related to titulature and the functioning of the Senate and the Counsellors of State system, as well as the correction of some spelling and wording mistakes.
The Third Amendment will officially enter into force on Empress Day, 27 February 2024. The current Representatives for non-residential subjects will remain in office as such until an election is called for their seats.
The First Amendment was made in September 2015, and the Second in January 2018.
UPDATE 13 FEBRUARY 08:40 – Total turnout for the referendum was 57.4%. However, both parts of the Amendment gained massive support, with 90.3% voting for the first and 96.8% for the second.
Lord Wilson gives final speech as PM
Lord William Wilson, Duke of Taysha earlier today gave a farewell speech as outgoing Prime Minister.
Lord Wilson, who is not standing for re-election in today’s ongoing general election, gave the speech in an online group call on Discord attended by other Representatives and dignitaries.
At the conclusion of his speech, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor thanked him for his time in office as Prime Minister and for his contributions to the nation.
Fellow Austenasians,
More than two years ago, I embarked on a journey with you – a journey to strive together with the objective of making our nation more robust and vibrant than before.
As I stand before you today, my time as your Prime Minister draws to a close. It is with some sorrow and regret that I depart, but moreso than these, I depart with a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to serve this remarkable nation.
Upon recollection, I find that the causes for my withdrawal, my unwillingness to seek re-election, have not been evident nor explicit. Now is the best time to let these causes be known clearly. For the past half-year, I have begun my tenure at University, with my studies withholding, the time I have spent in the dealings of government and with the representation of my native Nahona decreased to the point of rendering my duties unexecutable. Concurrently, my time has been taken up by what I consider to be my new priority. It is with some shame that I recognize that my time here should have ended before beginning this new chapter.
One of my guiding principles is that of responsibility, the very principle leading me to bid you farewell now rather than later. I feel a responsibility to our Empire that compelled me to leadership in the summer of 2021 and a calling to guide our government for the next two years. It is with the same sense of responsibility that I chose to seek to earn a commission to become an officer in the United States Army. My values have not changed, my loyalties have not changed, but to whom I should dedicate more and more of my time to in the commencement of those values and loyalties have.
The time spent as your Prime Minister makes Austenasia a part of me, and a part which I love deeply. Any regret I feel is not that I wish I had not done this at all, but that I wish I had done better for our nation.
To my successor, I offer these words of wisdom: lead with courage, govern with compassion, and always remember that the true measure of a leader lies not in the power they wield, but in the lives they touch and the hearts they inspire.
And to the citizens of Austenasia, I say this: continue to cherish the principles that bind us together as one nation, one people. For in the end, it is not the titles we hold or the offices we occupy that define us, but the legacy we leave behind and the values we uphold.
Thank you, my fellow Austenasians, for the privilege of serving as your Prime Minister. May God bless you, and may God bless the Empire of Austenasia.
Election becomes two-horse race as O’Halloran drops out
The next Prime Minister of Austenasia will be either Lord John Gordon or Lord Andrew Creed, with Lady Addison O’Halloran having dropped out of the election earlier today.
General election candidates have dropped out in previous elections – Lord Marshal William in 2013, and Lord Anthony Clark in 2019 – but technically remained on the ballot.
Now, however, an Imperial Decree has been passed by Emperor Jonathan I permitting candidates who wish to withdraw to do so completely.
With O’Halloran no longer running, the choice has narrowed to either Lord Creed or Lord Gordon.
Both have released statements outlining their positions and policies.
From Lord John Gordon:
“As a familiar face in Austenasia I will ensure a prosperous future and new reforms to several government departments to make government more open and streamlined. A more proactive approach will be taken to macronational affairs to make our presence known to all on the world stage. Your voice will be safe in my hands.
I promise to work for all Austenasians for the advancement of our nation. I will work on projects that everyone can work on together, and to increase our influence within the community. I will also discuss and possibly pursue UN non-consultative status as some prominent micronations have to increase awareness of our great state and her peoples.“
And from Lord Andrew Creed:
“I’m the longest serving Austenasian Governor, so my loyalty and commitment to Austenasia cannot be held in any doubt, and I led the charge in overhauling MicroWiki from a toxic cesspool to just a regular cesspool. I believe I can do the same for Austenasia, reforming our nation to be great once again. I’d like to take a more isolated stance with the international micronational world, to allow us to focus our energy on our own internal development. If elected, I would leave all intermicronational organisations that offer Austenasia no benefits.
And the most pressing matter, which is not acknowledged. The Moon, what the hell is it? Each night, it comes out and glares at us, watching children and women as they sleep. I would order an immediate investigation into the Moon’s activities and intentions. On Day 1.“
It remains to be seen whether Lord Creed’s anti-Moon rhetoric will affect the outcome of the vote in any meaningful way.
Constitutional amendment proposed
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor yesterday issued an Imperial Decree formally proposing an amendment to the Austenasian Constitution of 2011.
The decree formally proposing the amendment, including the full text of the proposed changes, can be read here.
The amendment is comprised of two parts.
The first would revise the system currently in place for the parliamentary representation of non-residential subjects, changing the geographically-based first-past-the-post Divisions system to a proportional, list-based system.
This means that more non-residential subjects would be able to stand for Parliament and be elected Representatives, and would not be prevented from doing so due to geographical considerations.
This would drastically improve democratic equality for non-residential subjects, who only gained parliamentary representation last year. They are currently represented in Parliament by four Representatives, whereas residential subjects (of which there are roughly the same amount) are represented by ten.
The second part of the amendment would implement various other, relatively minor reforms, mostly relating to the monarchy and Senate. An explanation of what the ten changes proposed by this part of the amendment would bring about can be read here.
Under new rules established in 2021 for constitutional amendments, approval by the Monarch and the House of Representatives – which previously came last – now comes first.
The Emperor has approved the amendments, and the proposals are now before the House of Representatives. A near-unanimous supermajority in support – under the House’s current set-up, 12 out of 14 votes – is required.
The amendments will then pass on to the Senate, where a simple majority vote is required to organise a referendum and arrange for the implementation of the amendments if approved by the people.
The referendum – provisionally planned, if approved, to take place on 12 February alongside the upcoming general election – needs a majority of Austenasia’s subjects to give their support, or a simple majority of those voting if a turnout of least 66% is achieved.
Two constitutional amendments have been enacted in the past, the First in September 2015 and the Second in January 2018.
If passed, the changes proposed on Monday would be jointly known as the Third Amendment, a name originally given to a different set of revisions which were unsuccessfully proposed in 2020.
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