4. Around the World, Other Republics – August 2009

in

SUPPORT FOR ENDING MONARCHY NOW AT RECORD HIGH (Citizens for a Canadian Republic)
Toronto, ON - July 2, 2009 - A new opinion poll released on Canada Day reveals a steady upward trend for cutting our ties to the monarchy, our last colonial link to Britain.
When asked about the future of the institution once the Queen’s reign ends, an unprecedented 65 per cent of Canadians thought the monarchy should also end. Only 35 per cent were in favour of Prince Charles becoming Canada’s next head of state.

 

“We were frankly surprised by the depth of the desire to cut ties with the monarchy,” said Peter Donolo of The Strategic Counsel, the firm that conducted the poll on behalf of CTV and The Globe and Mail. The figure shows a 7 percent jump in republican support from a 2008 poll that asked respondents a similar question.
Citizens for a Canadian Republic is repeating its call to the federal government to initiate an all-party parliamentary committee to discuss the future of the monarchy in Canada. With now over two-thirds of Canadians against a continuation of the monarchy after the Queen, Canadians also need the government to reveal its contingency plan in the event of the Queen’s death or abdication.

MT ALBERT CANDIDATES FOR A REPUBLIC
 (Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand)
A SURVEY OF CANDIDATES in this month’s Mt Albert by-election showed strong support for New Zealand becoming a republic. Support also came from across the political spectrum. 11 of the 15 by-election candidates were in favour of New Zealand becoming a republic, including Labour candidate and now MP David Shearer and Green candidate and co-leader Russel Norman. National candidate Melissa Lee and independent candidate Ari Baker did not answer the survey. Three candidates were undecided, including ACT MP John Boscawen. Simonne Dyer from the Kiwi Party was also undecided, but stated that “I don’t relish the thought of Prince Charles as the King”.

 

8 out of 15 would support Keith Locke’s Head of State (Referenda) Bill for a republic referendum, if it is drawn from the ballot. Several made their support for a republic conditional on adopting a written constitution or safeguarding human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi. Russel Norman said “Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed between the Crown and tangata whenua so when we move to a republic we need to ensure that the Crown side of that relationship is respected.” Dakta Green, candidate for the ALCP said “A foreign head of State is an anachronism and has no place in modern New Zealand society. We should have an elected Head of State.”
 
THE CASE FOR A REPUBLIC (Republic UK)
This is your country. It is your future. Your democracy. Your choice. The case for a republic is clear - aspiration, responsibility and democracy, or an unaccountable political system at the heart of which is an institution based on inheritance and exclusive privilege. Britain deserves the best. That means the best democracy we can create, a democracy that genuinely puts you, us, in charge. Our children should be inspired to believe they can achieve anything they want and our democracy should encourage that sense of aspiration. We should all be encouraged to take responsibility for our own political affairs, and our democracy should embody that responsibility.

 

The monarchy does none of these things. It embodies a spirit of deference and dependence on others. It robs us of aspiration, telling us that even the wisest and most talented commoner is no match for even the most unpleasant and immoral royal. Most crucially though, the monarchy is the heart of the British constitution and as such it denies us the best democracy we could have. It keeps from us the power to rule ourselves, it crushes the democratic spirit in order to justify its own existence.

 

The choice is ours. We have a choice. We can leave things as they are and face the prospect of a politically active and unaccountable King Charles residing in a wasteful palace. We can continue to tolerate nepotism, corruption and abuse of privilege at the heart of our constitution, we can continue to tell our children they can never be good enough to be our head of state... or we can opt for the change this country needs.

 

Britain deserves the best, and it’s in your power to give it the best. This is our country, these decisions are ours to make. Do you want your children and grandchildren to still be living with the monarchy in 100 years time? Or will we together make the decision to bring an end to the monarchy and give Britain the democracy it deserves? Some will tell you that this is all too difficult, that we should accept the monarchy as fact and just look to smaller, more achievable reforms. We don’t believe in surrendering to those who benefit the most from our undemocratic constitution. We mustn’t abandon our responsibility to improve our country for future generations. This is our country and our democracy. If a reform is important – and this is the most important reform of all – then is it worth fighting for. We believe it is a fight that can be won, and won soon, with your help.