Norway newspaper calls for end of monarchy
NTB/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 13 May, 2016 CET.
Updated: Fri 13 May 2016 13:14 CET
Stavanger Aftenblad’s editorial on Friday called for a “constitutional evolution” to put an end to Norway’s monarchy.
In the editorial, the newspaper writes that the nation should have a principled debate about the need for royalty and not just sweep the issue under the rug because Norway has “such a cozy royal family”.
The editorial points to the last failed vote in parliament to change Norway’s form of government. Although that proposal failed like others before it, Stavanger Aftenblad said it senses a change in the air given the number of younger MPs who voted for a change.
“The reality is that there is a generation of young members of parliament who are thinking about this as a matter of principle. They believe that it is time to think about a Norway that has a head of state who does not get the title through inheritance,” the newspaper wrote.
The editorial board said that the next proposal to amend the constitution should be followed up by a committee appointed to describe just how a Norwegian republic should look – “how the president should be elected, which powers she should have and so on”.
The call to end the monarchy came just days before Norway celebrates National Day on May 17th but the editorial writers said that future observances of the holiday should not be in danger. It points out that the constitution has survived many changes, while “the sun is now setting on the monarchy”.
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In the editorial, the newspaper writes that the nation should have a principled debate about the need for royalty and not just sweep the issue under the rug because Norway has “such a cozy royal family”.
The editorial points to the last failed vote in parliament to change Norway’s form of government. Although that proposal failed like others before it, Stavanger Aftenblad said it senses a change in the air given the number of younger MPs who voted for a change.
“The reality is that there is a generation of young members of parliament who are thinking about this as a matter of principle. They believe that it is time to think about a Norway that has a head of state who does not get the title through inheritance,” the newspaper wrote.
The editorial board said that the next proposal to amend the constitution should be followed up by a committee appointed to describe just how a Norwegian republic should look – “how the president should be elected, which powers she should have and so on”.
The call to end the monarchy came just days before Norway celebrates National Day on May 17th but the editorial writers said that future observances of the holiday should not be in danger. It points out that the constitution has survived many changes, while “the sun is now setting on the monarchy”.
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