Norgsveltian constitutional crisis of 2022

The Norgsveltian constitutional crisis of 2022 culminated on the 10th July 2022 with prime minister Johanna Sverdrup questioning the authority king Olav I in front of the Norgsveltian parliament after the king opposed the prime minister’s stance on the Syrtænzna Dissolution War, suggest the king was going against the constitution as such questioning the legality of his actions.

The king was quick to respond to the prime minister’s allegation with him holding a speech infront of the balcony of the Royal Palace on 11th July, days afterwards he held another speech in Vakrestrender in which he was having a vacation, requesting the prime minister to take a stance against the war and encourage protests against Johanna’s governments until the governmental position was officially changed. Which led to a long series of protests against Johanna’s government over her stance on the war with many demonstrating in favor of her resignation. On the 16th July her coalition partners in the Liberal National Party left the government after further comments by Johanna increased further anger and protests, with the protests becoming more and more pro-resignation.

Johanna was then accused of corruption on the 2nd August as documents of the prime minister taking bribes from the Blåskovian government was leaked by the NCIS including a leaked phone call. Leading to royal, parliamentary and public requests for her resignation. On the 6th August the opposition led by the Labour Party started a vote of no-confidence against Johanna’s government in which 297 voted in favor, 215 voted against and 88 abstained. With a clear lack of support from the parliament, the NCP officially replaced Johanna as the leader of the party on the 7th August in favor of minister of foreign affairs, John Wilstan Vultz, taking over as party leader. On the 9th August Johanna Sverdrup stepped down as prime minister of Norgsveldet, with John Wilstan Vultz becoming the acting prime minister until the 1st September in which a government was made by the Labour Party and the Ulvriktru Democrats with Wilhelm Kirkeland from the Labour Party becoming the new prime minister.

Background

Norgsveltian Constitution

As established by the Norgsveltian Constitution, the power of the Norgsveltian Crown is well defined and limits the monarch to play a mainly symbolic role in domestic affairs. Within the military and foreign policy fields it is less defined as the monarch's role in these fields was often left vague by how it was written back in 1850 at the design of Varg III. Main parts of the constitution establish the king as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in which the role of any military operation done by the armed forces needs approval of the crown, even if both parliament and government agree on a military operation. This as well includes the capability to declare war on another sovereign state, which a duty left completely up to the monarch.

However, in other matters of foreign policy including calling of diplomats which lead to the diplomatic crisis is one that never referred to concretely. Causing Johanna and her supporters during the crisis to argue the king’s role in diplomatic affairs should remain the same as the domestic one referring to article 11 of the constitution: “The crown shall not be involved in the internal matters of the realm without the approval of either Council of State or the parliament, the crown can advise and guide the government in said matters but is not maker of laws or administrator only an debater and adviser.”

This was later held into question by King Olav and his supporters, especially among the Ulvriktru Democrats, who argued the foreign policy matter of Norgsveldet shall be held according to article 22 of the constitution: “The matters that is external to the realm is controlled by Council of State as according to their executive power, but any decision done by the Council of State in said affairs shall only be done after a concrete approval from either the Crown or parliament had taken place and in which shall legitimize the decision.” This was then used by Olav and his supporters as a justification for his decision to involve himself in the diplomatic affairs that would involve the government’s decision on the Syrtænzna Dissolution War.

Diplomatic Crisis

The diplomatic crisis refers to the contradicting and delayed responses Norgsveltian diplomats made about the Blåskovian invasion of Syrtænazna as the result of the king’s involvement which the main example pointed there being of the king’s involvement of Blåskog’s removal from the NCEF in which the Norgsveltian representative to said organization and president of it, Mæra Saradatur, voted in favor to remove Blåskog as a member state. As a result of a phone call the king had with the president.

After said diplomatic incident the prime minister and king kept themself mainly quiet over the situation many pointing this out as a result of the two leaders competing on getting hold of as many diplomats as they could under said time and of private argument between the two. Though nothing is known of the details between the arguments the two had pictures of the prime minister walking out of the royal palace being frustrated became viral.

Other incidents of diplomats contradicting themselves have come from ambassadors such as the example of Norgsveldet’s ambassador to the Federation on the first day having stated that Norgsveldet’s position on the Blåskovian invasion was that of non-involvement. Which later was contradicted on the second day when the ambassador then clarified that Norgsveldet strongly condemns the invasion and supports sanctions towards Blåskog.

The king speaking out

Three days prior to the start of the constitutional crisis the king broke the silence about the diplomatic crisis publicly announcing his attempt at trying to convince Johanna in private to change her stance on the war in Syrtænzna. In which he justifies his decision of starting the diplomatic crisis citing his constitutional power as king, specifically citing constitutional privilege of foreign policy matters under the article 22 of the Norgsveltian Constitution. In which he also cites section b of said article which gives the king permission to contact any diplomatic representative that the Imperial Realm of Norgsveldet may hold without having to notify the Council of State beforehand.

Despite the king’s public announcement of the situation Johanna was still silent about the matter until the 10th of July. With her several times refusing to comment to news organizations about the matter. The only comments coming from her secretary in which only statements were that it would be a matter that will be brought up to the parliament.

The king’s announcement came as a shock to quite many within Norgsveltian society though one which cause a general large public backing to the king’s decision which was situation quickly seized by the Ulvriktru Democrats to organize pro-monarchy demonstrations in several big cities across Norgsveldet, in which largest was held in Osfjord and Wergby. This led to many within the demonstrations to accuse Johanna of being a republican. Similar demonstrations were organized by the Akuan political party Familie og Tradisjon in Vakrestrender.

Constitutional Crisis

Johanna questioning the king’s authority

During a parliamentary session held on the 10th July the prime minister used the opening part of the session to deny any claims of holding republicanist thoughts and reaffirmed her support to the monarchy as an institution. However, she opposes the king’s suggestion that the constitution gives the king high enough authority to oppose the government’s decision on foreign policy matters in the manner in which the king did it. Going as far to suggest that the legal precedents which have been set in the past gives the king no real authority to get involved. Stating that instead following Article 11 is far more in line with legal and royal tradition in the king’s role on the matters of foreign policy:

“The crown shall not be involved in the internal matters of the realm without the approval of either Council of State or the parliament, the crown can advise and guide the government in said matters but is not maker of laws or administrator only a debater and adviser.”

Which was met with heavy opposition from the Ulvriktru Democrats proclaiming it as a way for the prime minister to “delay legal protocol” and “traditionally inaccurate”. While the Labour Party leader, Wilhelm Kirkeland stated that for Johanna’s suggestion to be taken seriously then changes within the constitution needs to be made. Which would require two thirds of the parliament to agree. In which the NCP and LNP voted in favor of but the huge majority of the opposition voted nay on. Resulting in a vote which was 328 in favor, 272 voting nay. In which the constitutional reform bloc lacked 72 seats to make the constitutional reform.

Which day afterwards led to large public demonstration against the vote led to some MPs within the constitutional reform bloc to apologize for their position after public pressure from their local district.

Olav’s rebuttal

A day after the parliamentary session the king held a speech in front of the Royal Palace, in which he once more argued his actions were perfectly in line within the constitution. In which he thanked the public for the large support they have given him and urged the prime minister to “listen to them if you won’t listen to me”.

Soon after the Royal House released a statement in which they showed a list of times that Norgsveltian monarchs intervened in foreign policy matters of the Norgsveltian government since the creation of the constitution in 1850. Though the list was criticized by members of the supreme court stating it included times the crown was invited by the government to intervene. Nonetheless, avid supporters of the king within the supreme court defended king’s involvement and article 22 of the constitution.

After the speech King Olav I and Queen Wilhelmina went on their planned vacation to Vakrestrender in which Princess Alexandra and the king’s spokesperson Lady Aila Ingerdatur was ones defending the king’s actions in Norgsveldet. Though officially on a vacation the king held a speech in Vakrestrender in which he requested the prime minister to take a stance against the war in Syrtænzna and encouraged the people to protest against Johanna’s government until that was met. Which had an immediate effect in Vakrestrender with tens of thousands people protesting in the streets of Vakrestrender’s biggest cities. Almost reaching 100k protesters by the end of the month, proportionally far more than any other part of Norgsveldet.

Protests

Though Norgsveldet had been dealing with protests since the start of the War in Syrtænzna, it stayed small in number only being in the few thousands protesting against the war. Only increasing in number after the constitutional crisis officially started. Mostly organized by the pro-monarchy parties of the Ulvriktru Democrats and the Labour Party which encouraged their voters to protest against the government.

After the king’s speech in Vakrestrender in which Olav also expressed his support to the protesters, the number of protests massively increased. In which almost every single major city within Norgsveldet had day in and day out protests in support of the king’s decision. In which slogans like “Stop the War on the Crown, Warhanna!” and “No more war, Warhanna!” was yelled by the protesters. Though the numbers are disputed it has been assumed that by the end of July almost a million people were protesting around Norgsveldet and Vakrestrender combined, with over 100k protesting in Osfjord alone. With even members of the Royal Family being involved in the protests such as Princess Amanda and Prince Henrik who joined student organizations from their local high schools in support of their father.

Though there were counter protests in support of Johanna, they were far smaller in number, often being heavily outnumbered by the pro-monarchy protesters. In which a counter protest outside the parliament pictures showed heavy discrepancy between the two, with the pro-monarchy side almost being three times larger. With the only city in Norgsveldet which the pro-Johanna side being larger was in her hometown of Elveby.

Allegation of corruption

On the 2nd of August the Director of the NCIS, Henrik Wergland, revealed evidence of the prime minister having taken bribes from the Blåskovian government. In which they showed proof of financial accounts linked to different banks and businesses in Rikevaarland that were sending money to several secret financial accounts that Johanna was able to keep hidden. With the Rikevaari accounts having gotten money from various mining companies in Blåskog that were owned by the Blåskovian Crown. With Johanna's accounts being set up in Vakrestrender, making it outside the jurisdiction of Norgsveltian Law. Amount of money assumed to have been given to the prime minister being at 40 million UKR, in which the NCIS leaked Johanna purchasing an estate in Vakrestrender at a value of 20 million UKR a day afterwards.

The news of the bribery effectively killed any support that the prime minister had left in both the public and in her own political party. With the intensity of the protests increasing with people demanding her resignation. Even going so far as to protest outside the NCP Headquarters in Osfjord, making it hard for party members to enter or leave the building.

After the leak demands for her resignation didn’t just come from the public but also from the parliament and the king as well. Which requested her to step down. The Opposition stated that because she and her government had no legitimacy to power, a vote of no confidence, which led her party to replace her as party leader with John Wilstan Vultz and which she soon after gave her resignation to Olav. Soon after the king asked the opposition to form a government while John Wilstan Vultz would be assigned as acting prime minister.

International Reactions

Crown Realm

Federation

The Crowned Socialist Federation of the Southern Coast reaction was widely favored by the monarchy over Johanna in the polls. The Federation has extremely aggressive laws against corruption, including making a crime to betraying the public trust’ which is exclusively applied to corruption cases. Public news agencies, such as Red Dove ran 24 hour coverage of the scandal daily, providing documentaries about the Norgsveltian constitution, playing a biography of both Johanna and Olav, as well several interviews with various legal and judges from Norgsveldet. It should be noted that Johanna was not rated very highly in the Federation before the constitutional crisis, the crisis only further sank her reputation within the Federation.

Federal Prime Minister of the Federation, Jeanne Pierre held a press conference to state the government’s position on the matter. Firmally siding with Olav and making an official request press charges on the disgraceful Prime Minister. According to government insiders, Pierre and Sverdrup shared a phone call on the night of the scandal. While the content of the phone call has not been shared, it has been noted as being above average angry tone from Pierre with reports of yelling being recorded. According to maintenance reports working for the Federal government, the Federal Prime Minister’s office window was smashed through. However the FPM office states the window wasn’t broken and was scheduled for replacement after a storm.

Eyjaria

The majority among the public of the Commonwealth of Eyjaria was siding with the king, though the degree heavily depended on province to province and party to party. According to polls done by the ENN the support to the king could be as high as 87% in the case of the Vest Øy, to as low as 45% in Sørheim. With support to the king heavily correlating with the level of republicanism in Eyjaria as huge majority of those who sided with Johanna’s argument against the king’s authority being on the republican left wing, such as the Serinian Independence Party and the Socialist Labour Party. Within Sørheim it became a very polarizing topic even causing street fights between left wing and right wing political groups mainly between the paramilitaries of the Republican Guard and the Society Guard. Which forced the government to crackdown on paramilitary activity in the province much to the dismay of the Serinian Independence Party.

The Eyjarian Prime Minister, Kjolf Bardsen also held a press conference about the crisis on the 15th July stating his dismay over the situation and a public call for Johanna to “reconsider her actions” and stated his respect towards the monarchy as an institution. This was soon followed up with his political party, the Agrarian Party, stating their full support to Olav on social media and their condemnation of the positions taken by left wing parties on the issue. Often taking a harsh stance towards the Serinian Independence Party who they accused was using their paramilitary branch of the Republican Guard to start a wave of political violence.

Vakrestrender

Olav was at Vakrestrender when the crisis broke out. Hosting a speech, notably the Jarl of Vakrestrender was not present for. Though it is extremely normal for the current Jarl to not be involved in politics. The Norgsveltian king asked for a peaceful protest against Johanna and the prime minister stepped down. The people took to the streets protesting.

The Family & Tradition Party, as well the Prime Minister of Vakrestrender released a statement condemning Johanna for bribery. Stating it was a dark mark in the Norgsveltian political establishment and organized several protests condemning Johanna.

Tangrland

Though in most members of the Crown Realm it was heavy reactions to the Constitutional Crisis in the Crown State of Tangrland it was met with a lot of apathy. With local news organizations placing the topic as secondary to topics such as the insurgency in the country’s interior region and topics of gang violence in Borgdalen. Despite that there were political organizations that took advantage of the situation to push for their political goals. Including nationalistic group the National Officers Union who used the crisis as an argument to demand immediate independence from Norgsveldet. Though with the government having already agreed on holding independence talks with Norgsveldet in 2023, this demand had little effect on the public attitude of the already strong push for independence.

The government stated their neutrality on the issue with both the High Lord Feirleik VI and High Maiden Sigrid X stating their wish for the crisis to end sooner rather than later. An anonymous source claimed that Sigrid was supportive of the king but was convinced by Feirleik to not speak publicly about it. Though this has been denied by both.

Dvalheim

According to polls conducted by the Dvalian government over 90% of the public in Dvalheim supported their monarch’s position. With even some members of the government requesting that Johanna should be banned from entering the country. Though it was a position that was refused by the People’s Assembly.

Dvalheim has however been criticized for not having polled the southern regions of its country, one it recently had annexed after its short war with Tiervan in 2020. In which it still held said regions in martial law. This has made people accuse the government for trying to make Dvalheim seem more pro-monarchy then it actually was.

Others

Tretrid: On July 8, anonymous source within the Tretridian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Cynebury Herald that Tretrid was monitoring the political situation in Norgsveldet in light of reports of the Diplomatic Crisis. On July 10, fter Sverdrup publicly questioning Olav's authority, Tretridian Foreign Minister Sæwine Wealdmundson told reporters that the Tretridian government was "keeping an eye on the political situation in Norgsveldet in case of any further developments," but also noted that "this is ultimately an internal affair within Norgsveldet." The Tretridian government did not make any public statements in light of Sverdrup's removal in August, but Tretridian Prime Minister Eoforwine Æthelstanesunu reportedly sent congratulations to Kirkeland's government after its election.

Aduraszna: The Aszar Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Heras Leilik of AK/ER, said nothing publicly about the geopolitical implications of the crisis, but expressed optimism for the left-wing domestic policies on the manifesto of Kirkeland's new Labour coalition government. The former foreign minister, Solidarity's Lóra Kaltehan, who had been demoted to the backbenches following a failed diplomatic intervention against the Kæra government's purchase of Twin Penguin Seafoods the previous year, posted on Pigeon: "heartbreaking: the worst method of picking a head of state you know just made a great point".