Local Election candidates confirmed
Those standing for Representative in next month’s local election have been confirmed. All incumbents are standing for election, with some at present only being Acting Representatives due to their Towns having joined the Empire after the most recent local elections in November last year. In no Town is there an opposing candidate standing for election, but this does not mean that there will be only one choice on the ballot paper. All subjects will have an option to abstain – should the option to abstain gain more votes than the candidate, the respective Town Council may take power for itself or appoint a new Acting Representative. Those standing for election to the office of Representative are: In Wrythe: HIM Emperor Jonathan I In Zephyria: Lord Marshal William, Baron of Zephyria In Thanasia: HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis In Palasia: Lord John Gordon, Baron of Palasia In Lichtenstein: Lord Hengest Crannis, Duke of Grantabridge In Porthbokon: Lady Evren Filgert, Duchess of Dumnonia In New Richmond: HIH Joseph Nobilissimus Caesar In Shineshore: Lord Alastair Cranston, Duke of New Virginia
Six years of independence celebrated
The sixth anniversary of the Austenasian Declaration of Independence has been celebrated across the Empire, while local elections have been called for next month. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and his parents celebrated Independence Day with a meal out this evening at a local restaurant. Crown Princess Caroline was unable to accompany them due to schoolwork. The occasion was also marked across the Empire – a parade took place in New Richmond, a ceremony was held in Oregonia, and a museum has been opened in Lichtenstein. Furthermore, the customary Independence Day honours list was released by Emperor Jonathan I. Amongst those granted honours was Lord Dux Joseph Kennedy, who has been appointed Caesar. Now known as HIH Joseph Nobilissimus Caesar, the founder of New Richmond has been appointed the Emperor’s deputy over the two Crown Dependencies in North America, Shineshore and Oregonia. Furthermore, the Governing Commissioner of the latter of these two, King Adam I of Überstadt, has been granted subjectship of the Empire, raising Austenasia’s population to fifty people. In an Imperial Edict given yesterday, the Emperor also announced that local elections will take place on 11 October. The last local elections took place in November last year, but since then several new Towns have joined the Empire, meaning that a large proportion of those in the House of Representatives are serving as Acting Representatives, without a democratic mandate. Subjects have one week in which to announce their intention to stand for Representative.
Codex Jonathanus enters into force
What has been described as “one of the most extensive pieces of legislation” in the history of small nations was adopted today as the long awaited Austenasian civil code came into force. Known as the Codex Jonathanus, the civil code is an amended version of the Codex Justinianus, an extremely influential codification of Roman law ordered by Emperor Justinian I in the early 6th century. Laws related to archaic issues such as slavery have been removed, and some dealing with local matters amended to refer to Representatives, Town Councils and the like, but for the most part this civil code consists of genuine Roman laws passed between 146 and 532 AD. The code, which is comprised of over five hundred laws, covers matters including contract and family law, debts, marriage, property, and the justice system. It will be used mostly by magistrates when deciding on how to settle disputes. The Codex Jonathanus – meaning Code of Jonathan – was compiled by the Emperor, who started work on the massive project at the start of May last year, making use of an English translation of the Codex Justinianus. The adoption of the code was authorised by Parliament last week. The Codex Justinianus, of which this code is effectively an abridged version, served as the civil code of the Roman Empire from 534 until 892, and has been described as one of the foundations of the western legal tradition. The adoption of the Codex Jonathanus, as well as having great practical benefits, has also strengthened the Roman inheritance of Austenasia. A printed copy of the Codex has been stored in the Imperial Residence, and copies will be available upon request to be sent to any Representatives, judges, or magistrates. The Codex Jonathanus can be read online here.
Contract and family law passed
Two Acts of Parliament were given Imperial Consent yesterday evening forming a basis for Austenasian contract law and family law. The first, the Contract Law and Magistrates Act 2014, defines a contract, who can enter into them, and how they can be breached or repudiated, generally following the same principles of British contract law. The second, the Parents, Guardians and Children Act 2014 codifies the responsibilities of parents and guardians to children, and also lists children’s rights (based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). Provision has also been made for magistrates to be appointed, judges who will settle disputes in civil law including contractual and family matters, but also covering issues such as property ownership and inheritance. Furthermore, compromises – legally binding agreements made outside of court – have been established as an alternative means of conflict resolution. Speaking in Parliament, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor stated that he felt the Empire “really should expand our civil law”. Nearly all Austenasian legislation to date has been concerned with criminal law, administration, and titles.
Austenasia featured in Sutton Guardian for a fourth time
The Sutton Guardian has run an article on the Empire of Austenasia for the fourth time since 2009. The article, printed on the fifth page of the weekly free newspaper delivered throughout the London Borough of Sutton, was published in response to the recent cession of the Zone to Renasia. A more detailed version of the article has been uploaded to the Sutton Guardian website. The article printed in the newspaper contains a large photograph of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Jonathan I, and a smaller one of the Zone, the area in Poulter Park which was ceded to Renasia last month. Unfortunately, there were some slight factual inaccuracies in the printed edition. The paper stated that Austenasia declared independence in 2009 rather than 2008, and that the Empire is comprised of 11 rather than 17 pieces of land. The headline also referred to Renasia as a “rival”, but did correctly state in the article that it enjoys good diplomatic relations with the Empire. This is the fourth time Austenasia has featured in the Sutton Guardian; previous articles on the Empire were published in January 2009, September 2011, and February 2013.
Lady Evren Filgert and Sir James von Puchow visit Carshalton
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor yesterday gave Lady Evren Filgert and Sir James von Puchow a guided tour of the Carshalton Nations. Emperor Jonathan I met Filgert – currently Acting Representative of the newly annexed Town of Porthbokon – at Mile End in London, where they were then joined by von Puchow of Landashir, who became a non-residential subject of Austenasia last month. The three travelled by train to Carshalton station, and walked the short distance to Orly, where they were given a tour by the Emperor of its constituent states Copan and the Grove and their respective capitals of Memphis and the Secluded Place. The Emperor spoke at length about the history of Orly, mentioning the recent floods, its liberation from foreign rule, and the strange discovery of a turkey carcass in the Grove one and a half years ago. After the tour of Orly, the three of them went to Carshalton High Street and had lunch at a café there. The tour then continued, with Filgert and von Puchow being shown the former site of Rushymia and the Midget Empire from the vantage point of the neighbouring recreation ground. The final point of the tour was the capital itself, Wrythe. The two guests briefly met Crown Princess Caroline and pet bullmastiff Edd, and were then shown Wrythe Pet Cemetery and the ruins of the Orange Pyramid in Wrythe Public Park. The tour of the Carshalton Nations over, the three went back into London. After von Puchow left for Landashir, the Emperor explored Mile End with Lady Evren until it was time for them to depart.
Annexations continue amidst warnings of over-expansion
Parliament yesterday evening passed an Act annexing a new Crown Dependency in North America and authorising the annexation of another in the Canary Islands in two weeks. Oregonia, an area of wooded parkland measuring roughly 650 square feet which borders the Kingdom of Überstadt, has joined the Empire as a new Crown Dependency, with King Adam I of Überstadt appointed its Governing Commissioner. The growth of various plants in the area, some of which can be used for dyeing textiles, has opened up an opportunity for Austenasian-Überstadti trade. The Act of Parliament also authorised Lord Hengest Crannis to annex a holiday home owned by his family in the Canary Islands when he visits there later in the month. This will make Africa the fifth continent to have an Austenasian presence, and the new Crown Dependency there – which will be known as Heischierland – will be somewhat of a tourism hub, with friends and family of Lord Hengest frequently staying there. However, concerns were raised in Parliament as to the rate at which the Empire is expanding. Lord John Gordon voiced his opinion that the Empire needs “to slow down”. Emperor Jonathan I replied agreeing that “some consolidation is indeed necessary”, and that Austenasia does not “need a new piece of land every month”. It is therefore thought that the Empire’s rate of expansion will significantly slow down, if not stop, for the next several months.
The Emperor speaks at event on independence
Emperor Jonathan I yesterday spoke about the Empire’s independence at an event at Wilton’s Music Hall in Tower Hamlets, London. The event, entitled “This state of independence shall be…”, was part of the “Change for a tenner!” week-long festival celebrating social change, run by the London International Festival of Theatre. His Imperial Majesty spoke to an audience of roughly 60 alongside representatives of the NSK State, Kemetia, Christiania, and Elgaland-Vargaland, all of which are independence movements of varying kinds. The Emperor gave a 5-minute long overview of the history and structure of the Empire, then fielded questions on several topics, including the prominence of women in the Austenasian government and the expectations of the now Imperial Family when they declared independence.
One year anniversary of the Liberation of Orly celebrated
The first anniversary of the Liberation of Orly was today marked with a celebration in the Copanese Embassy at East Wrythe. Tea and cakes were enjoyed by Emperor Jonathan I and Queen Emma of Copan, who was appointed monarch upon the Liberation one year ago. They were joined by two prominent Orlians at the embassy, which, while under Austenasian sovereignty as an exclave of the capital, is administered under Copanese law due being under extraterritoriality. As East Wrythe is therefore in a sense both Austenasian and Orlian, it was felt to be the best location to celebrate the occasion. The Liberation of Orly is the name given to the events of 24 June 2013, when citizens of Orly deposed Declan I and turned to the Emperor of Austenasia to restore legitimate government in Copan and the Grove, the two states which comprise Orly. Declan I had seized power over the Carshalton Nations in December 2010 by exploiting a power struggle between the then Emperor Esmond III and Crown Prince Jonathan, but had abdicated from the Austenasian Throne in January 2013. His deposition from the throne of Orly (and its re-division into Copan and the Grove) marked the end of foreign rule in the Carshalton Nations. Jonathan I yesterday visited the Grove in a personal capacity to feed the wildlife there, an activity joyfully partaken in by the newly independent Orlians a year ago immediately after having deposed Declan I. The Emperor hinted that this may become an annual tradition.
James von Puchow made Austenasian subject at summit in London
James von Puchow, founder of Landashir and long-time friend of the Empire, became an Austenasian national earlier today at a summit held in central London. Emperor Jonathan I met at Mile End with von Puchow and with Richard Cunningham (a former holder of the offices of GUM Chair and Pope of the Proto-Cults), to be joined later by Sebastian Linden of Francisville. Pierre d’Égtavie of Renasia had intended to attend the meeting, as had Evren Filgert of the recently founded Austenasian town of Porthbokon, but both had to cancel. The Emperor, von Puchow and Cunningham visited the Tower of London and the British Museum before going back to Mile End to meet Sebastian Linden and his significant other. After refreshments, the group went to Mile End Park, where von Puchow was made an Austenasian national by the Emperor under the provisions of an Act of Parliament last week. Von Puchow now holds the status of a non-residential subject, and will soon be appointed Deputy Chief Ambassador to share the workload of the current Chief Ambassador, the Prime Minister Countess Eritoshi.