Emperor announces local elections as exile ends
As his final fortnight of exile comes to an end, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has announced local elections for four of the Empire’s ten towns: Thanasia, Palasia, New Richmond and Harenfall. The local election will take place on 28 May next month. Those eligible, between the 7th and 14th of May, may stand to be elected their town’s Representative. Since 8 April, Emperor Jonathan I has been in exile from Austenasia, voluntarily serving out a recommended sentence given after the outcome of a trial he arranged after pledging to have the legality of actions he committed while still Crown Prince against Esmond III examined by a court. The Emperor was sentenced to three fortnights of exile, the timing of which would be at his discretion. This final fortnight of exile was served primarily at the Austenasian Embassy to the United Kingdom in Roehampton. In one of the amendments to the Constitution passed last year, local elections can now take place in one or some towns instead of all at once. This is the first time since then that such has taken place. Although the Emperor’s self-imposed exile is now at an end, he will spend six days with his unmarried partner Princess Consort Hannah at her university accomodation in the British city of Chester before travelling back to Wrythe. He will arrive back at Carshalton station on the evening of Thursday 28th.
Updated criminal code published
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, in his capacity as Home Secretary, has published an updated version of the Austenasian criminal code. The criminal code, which can be read here, is an updated version of one published in July 2013. The definitions of those actions considered crimes under Austenasian law are spread over many separate Acts of Parliament and Imperial Decrees. The criminal code lists the crimes by category in a single document, together with commentary by the Emperor. The previous code had become outdated, with new offences having since been created and reform having been made to legal areas such as drug laws.
Lord Admiral Eren Lewis elected new Speaker
The House of Representatives this morning elected Lord Admiral Eren Lewis, Baron of Terentia, as its second Speaker. He replaces Lord Charles Clarke, who became Speaker in September last year but resigned on Monday 7th. The Speaker presides over and maintains order in meetings of the House of Representatives, recognising motions and counting votes. Lord Admiral Eren has served as Minister of Defence since March 2015.
New territory in Scotland
The Empire of Austenasia has expanded for the second time this year, with the annexation of a small territory in eastern Scotland. The Territory of Amerdansk, which consists of the 360 square foot garden of a residential property, was annexed by Austenasia last night. The land had been offered to the Empire by the now Lord Anthony Clark, a resident of the adjoining house, who has been appointed governor of the territory. Amerdansk is the sixth Territory of the Empire, and the fourth to be an enclave of Scotland.
Huge expansion for the Empire
The land area of the Empire has increased by almost 83% with the annexation of the Principality of Sabovia and the foundation of a new territory in central Europe. Sabovia, a principality located near to the Austenasian Territory of Corinium Terentium, was founded in April 2013 by its leader Prince Andrew I. The principality has now dissolved, with the small inhabited areas returning to the United Kingdom and the large uninhabited areas joining Corinium Terentium, which is governed by the now Lord Andrew Musgrave. A further expansion has taken place in the Czech Republic, where a roughly 12,000 square foot area of uninhabited land through which a part of the Rokytka river flows has been annexed as the Territory of Aurora. Aurora is governed by its founder Lord Karl Friedrich, who has been granted non-residential subjectship of the Empire. These two annexations, which took place early on Saturday morning, have increased the land area of the Empire to over 104 acres in total. The Austenasian Times apologises that news of this expansion was not published earlier, due to technical difficulties with internet access.
Emperor to spend six weeks in exile
The trial of Emperor Jonathan I has come to an end, with the Monarch having been found guilty of three counts of treason against former emperor Esmond III. The trial, which took place online in the Imperial Court, saw the Emperor being tried for three actions he committed during December 2010 and January 2011 while Crown Prince in the process of overthrowing Esmond III in favour of Declan I. The Emperor convened the trial after reflection on the circumstances under which his predecessor came to power, stating that he wished to see justice done. As Monarch, the Emperor is immune from prosecution by anyone other than himself, and so technically served as judge, prosecutor, and defendant in the trial. However, for simplicity’s sake, the prosecution was argued by Sir Sebastian Linden and the defence by King Adam I of Überstadt. The trial came to an end on 19 January, with the jury finding the Emperor guilty of all charges. He did not appeal the outcome, and was sentenced this morning by the consuls to six weeks of exile, during which he will not set foot in Austenasia. Due to the status of the Monarch, he is not legally obliged to submit to said sentence. However, the Emperor has stated that he will voluntarily do so, spending most of the time at the Austenasian Embassy to the United Kingdom (located in Roehampton). The exile will not in any way affect the smooth running of Austenasian government: the Emperor has not been deprived of any of his powers, and will simply exercise them online or via telephone.
Emperor puts himself on trial
The first criminal trial since May 2009 has begun in Austenasia, with the Emperor himself on trial. HIM Emperor Jonathan I has, in an unprecedented move, charged himself with three counts of treason against Esmond III for actions committed over December 2010 and January 2011 in regards to his role in bringing Declan I to power. In the Emperor’s recent Christmas broadcast, he announced a desire to see the legality of his role in those events investigated in order to rectify any outstanding injustices. A select committee of the Privy Council was gathered, which helped organise a trial. The events in question took place during and after the War of the Orlian Reunification in December 2010, when the then Crown Prince Jonathan successfully orchestrated a conflict between the Carshalton Nations to bring Declan I to power as joint Monarch in opposition to Esmond III. Although the then Crown Prince admitted his role in events the following year, no legal action was ever taken against him. With the trial taking place in the Imperial Court, the Emperor is by a technicality judge, defendant, and prosecutor. However, in the interests of simplicity and justice, the prosecution is being argued by Sir Sebastian Linden and the defence by King Adam I of Überstadt. The trial is taking place over Skype due to differences in time zones between the prosecution and defence. As such, it will likely take several days. The smooth running of the government is not likely to be affected during this time. More details about the trial will be made public as events unfold.
The eligibility of the Prime Minister
Article by Lord Adam von Friedeck, Duke of Washington (a.k.a. King Adam I of Überstadt). Esteemed friends and colleagues: From time to time, baseless disputes enter our community of small nations, and this week, a new one emerged: the question, raised by foreign journalists, of whether Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, the incumbent Prime Minister, retains his electoral mandate. I can say with confidence that he does. Horatio Eden, writing for the Daily Micronational, first raised the matter, observing that Austenasia’s population has grown since Lord Kennedy was elected last year. This is especially significant given that demographic shifts were partially responsible for the calling of the last general election. Attempting to justify his concern, Mr. Eden claims that the voters that gave him over 68% in the election now comprise about a third of the Empire. However, this is false. As the Emperor clarified to the House of Representatives yesterday, while the Empire has seen an increase in residents over the past nine months, not a single new subject has been naturalized (Austenasian Subjects are those with legal citizenship, and those residents without this status lack suffrage). Therefore, there has been no change in Lord Kennedy’s electoral mandate. The same people who formed the electorate nine months ago remain the entirety of the electorate today. The Prime Minister’s Office is aware of no popular opposition to Lord Kennedy’s premiership within the Empire, and welcomes all feedback and input Austenasians may have concerning the Imperial Government’s policies and activities. As for Mr. Eden, I acknowledge that he most likely misunderstood the facts of the situation and did not act out of malice. Those motivated by personal dislike of Lord Kennedy to further misrepresent the situation in other news outlets are invited to correct themselves. Faithfully yours, Lord Adam, Duke of Washington Chief of Staff, Prime Minister’s Office
Consuls appointed for 2016
New Year’s Day 2016 has seen the appointment of the Emperor’s mother and grandmother as the year’s consuls. The two Consuls of Austenasia are the Empire’s highest judicial authorities, with the duty of passing sentence on convicted criminals. However, due to Austenasia’s practically non-existent crime rate, their function is mostly ceremonial, primarily being used to name the year after. Prime Minister Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy has appointed as 2016’s consuls Emperor Mother Margaret and Emperor Grandmother Joyce, the only two members of the immediate Imperial Family to have not yet served as consul. Emperor Grandmother Joyce, at 93, is the oldest person to have been appointed consul to date, as well as the first consul who is not technically an Austenasian national.
Christmas 2015 celebrated in Austenasia
The past few days have seen Christmas celebrated across the Empire. On Christmas Day, Friday 25th, the populations of Wrythe and Zephyria attended a morning service at Carshalton Methodist Church. The Imperial Family then had Christmas dinner at the residence of the Boxalls (the maternal relatives of the Emperor). On Boxing Day, Saturday 26th, roles were reversed with the Boxall family being hosted at the Imperial Residence by the Imperial Family. Also joining them was Princess Consort Hannah, the Emperor’s unmarried partner. Emperor Jonathan I published his third annual Christmas broadcast on YouTube on Christmas Day, which can be heard here. In the speech, he reflected on the events of 2015 and on the meaning behind celebrations and anniversaries. Furthermore, Pontifex Maximus Alexander III (also known as Bradley of Dullahan) published a Christmas encyclical, which can be read here. The Austenasian Times wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!