3024 Balancín general election

A general election is expected to be held sometime in 3024 to elect the 2nd Balancín Parliament. The 1st Parliament, known as the Partial Parliament, has the responsibility of outlining the processes of selection of members of the Cortes Generales (the lower house). The Citizen, Merchant, and Third Sector Class Representation Bill was passed on 26 February 3024 in an attempt to put electoral processes in place. The bill was vetoed by King Maximilian II the next month, on the basis that it contained too many provisions of democratic selection of MPs (members of Parliament).

Parliament is expected to convene later in March to review the bill and consider alterations suggested by the King.

Cortes Generales

The general election will be most prominent for the election of the Cortes Generales. Consisting of 24 MPs, the Cortes Generales is the general body of representation for the non-noble and non-clergy classes of Balancín society.

Under King Maximilian's proposal to Parliament, the 24 seats would be divided up as follows:

1. Election by eligible electors residing in the Crownlands
2. Election by eligible electors residing in the Principality of the Newton
3. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Mountbatten
4. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Valls
5. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Belemadena
6. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Ander
7. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Shipley
8. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Farleigh
9. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Alba
10. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Montrose
11. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Carolina
12. Election by eligible electors residing in the Duchy of Estaire
13. Selection by the Lord Director of the Shore Incorporated Guild
14. Selection by the Lord Director of the Asturias Incorporated Guild
15. Selection by the Lord Director of the Obragon Incorporated Guild
16. Selection by the Lord Envoy from the Northern Continental Patented Guild
17. Selection by the Lord Envoy from the NorthEast Industries Patented Guild
18. Selection by the Lord Envoy from the Greene Harvester Patented Guild
19. Selection by the Lord Envoy from the Agency Industries Patented Guild
20. Selection by the governing body of the University of Southern Bonitana
21. Selection by the governing body of the University of Pembroke
22. Selection by the Chairperson of the Royal Trust
23. Selection by the Chairperson of the Red Cross
24. Election by a vote of the Merchant Council

Criticisms of King Maximilian's proposal

When King Maximilian vetoed the Citizen, Merchant, and Third Sector Class Representation Bill, he outlined the above process for deciding each member of the Cortes Generales. However, his proposal received heavy criticism on a number of grounds.

Firstly, Patented Guilds receive their status based on royal proclamation through Letters patent. Thus, in effect, the four Patented Guilds would be sending MPs to Parliament if and only if they had the consent of the monarch. The same is true for the Royal Trust, whose chairperson is also appointed freely by the monarch. This has been seen as a reduction in the autonomy of Parliament.

Secondly, the 12 "elected" seats are based on the dukal boundaries as established in 3024. However, the dukal boundaries differ vastly in population. Thus, sparsely populated duchies will have the same voting power as densly populated ones. This has been seen as a further reduction in the democratic legitimacy of the Cortes Generales.

The King's Court

The general election will also constitute a reformation of the King's Court. Members of the King's Court are appointed through three main channels:

• Holding noble title of Duke, Duchess, or Lord Director, or through being the heir to a Dukal title;
• Holding clergy title or position above that of Bishop, or through specific Pontifical appointment;
• Being appointed by the monarch.

Thus, there will likely be no major changes to the King's Court, aside from any new appointments the King may wish to make.

Date of election

The date of the election is currently unclear and will be set by the new law that is expected to outline the electoral processes. However, the ultimate power lies with the monarch who can dissolve Parliament at their will.