DBWI: Napoleon IX amends the Constitution!

200 Years of Napoleonic Autocracy came to an end yesterday as Emperor Napoleon IX passed two amendments to the ancient 1804 Constitution.

The first one declares France to be a full democracy, absolving the Emperor of all governmental power and effectively making him a powerless, ceremonial head of state, a true constitutional monarch, much like the British king. The effective head of government is now the Prime Minister.

The second amendment declares full freedom of speech and press throughout the Empire, finally abolishing the censorship office and propaganda department.

I expect the satellite kingdoms and the rest of Europe to follow suit anytime soon.

Now for the first time I can truly, proudly and wholeheartedly say Vive l'France! Vive l'Empereur!
 
What brought about this sudden change in policy?

I can only hope these political changes bring about some economic ones as well. The Customs Union is nothing more than a ploy to keep the French Empire's economy dominant above all others. It's pitiful that here in Westphalia that domestically produced products are more expensive to buy than French imported ones.

Perhaps we'll also finally see the end to the Empire impressing soldiers to serve in the Grand Armée...a defender of European interests? No, just a French ploy to maintain a massive army without bloating their own defense budget. Of course we here in Germany have to pay for everything!
 
I know our King, Fredrick XV of the Union of Kalmar and his family has been pushing for more rights for the last 50 years but the Bonaparte family has been very hesitant.

We were lucky Fredrick VI allied with Napoleon and was able to distract the Prussians long enough for Napoleon to win the Battle of Waterloo and as a result was rewarded with the Kingdom of Sweden creating the 2nd Union of Kalmar. We are also lucky that Napoleon viewed Fredrick VI as a friend and our Kingdom as a result was granted more autonomy compared to the various vassal kingdoms.

We fear that the conservative elements in France might start a coup and replace Napoleon IX with his brother Louis Napoleon and we hope that France doesn't start a second French Revolution
 
What brought about this sudden change in policy?
I don't know, Napoleon IX always has been a shady figure and always kept to himself as crowned prince, maybe the young Emperor just wants to kick back and do nothing for the rest of his life, being witness to the Imperial stress that crippled his father and grandfather, and perhaps being envious of the carefree life of his friend the King of England.

The problem is: Will Czar Constantine III follow the efforts from France?
Unlikely, the Czar has never been the one to follow trends from Paris, in fact the Czar has always made it policy to do the opposite of what Paris is doing so we might even see a reversal of the Gorbachevite reforms of the 1980's.
We fear that the conservative elements in France might start a coup and replace Napoleon IX with his brother Louis Napoleon
But the new system actually means that the Conservatives are in power as they have currently have a majority in the Senate and the liberal Emperor just cut himself off from all power.
 
I don't know, Napoleon IX always has been a shady figure and always kept to himself as crowned prince, maybe the young Emperor just wants to kick back and do nothing for the rest of his life, being witness to the Imperial stress that crippled his father and grandfather, and perhaps being envious of the carefree life of his friend the King of England.


Unlikely, the Czar has never been the one to follow trends from Paris, in fact the Czar has always made it policy to do the opposite of what Paris is doing so we might even see a reversal of the Gorbachevite reforms of the 1980's.

But the new system actually means that the Conservatives are in power as they have currently have a majority in the Senate and the liberal Emperor just cut himself off from all power.
Let's be honest, this reform has been a long time coming, it just took someone like Napoleon IX to actually do it, consequences be damned. I'm expecting at least some kind of coup attempt by the military, but I can't see it working at this rate.

If he hadn't reformed the constitution when he did, he would have faced a repeat of the '68 riots that nearly brought down his father, and I'm sure the Bonapartes learned their lessons that time when Napoleon's older brother was lynched by the mob.
 
Top