Constitution of Ariddia

The Constitution of Ariddia is the basis of Ariddian law. It was proclaimed in 1987, following the birth of the Social Republic. It was preceded by preparatory emergency decrees and acts of Parliament from 1985 to 1987, as the legislative framework of the Social Republic was laid out.

The Constitution details the fundamental rights of Ariddians. A Constitutional Council exists, tasked with invalidating any law (or section of law) which would contradict any part of the Constitution. The Constitution may be amended via an 80% majority vote in Parliament, subject to the approval of the citizens via referendum.

It is written in French, English and Wymgani. The French version prevails should there be any inconsistency or apparent contradiction between versions. However, the Wehela Iolih (Indigenous Parliament) is empowered to rule that any article in the Wymgani version of the Constitution which is contradicted or rendered amibiguous by the French version remains valid in its application specifically to the Indigenous population.

The Preamble contains the essential principles of the Social Republic.

Preamble

In French

Art. 1

Art. 1: L’Ariddia est une république sociale, démocratique, laïque, une et indivisible. La souveraineté inaliénable du peuple ariddien s’exprime à travers ses institutions démocratiques, la voie référendaire, la liberté d’expression et la liberté de la presse.

Art. 2

Art. 2: L’Ariddia est, en premier lieu, la nation wymgani. Le statut d’indigénat du peuple wymgani lui confère un droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination. Il incombe au peuple ariddien de connaître, comprendre et apprécier les droits, l’histoire, la culture, les lois, les valeurs et les traditions des communautés wymgani. La propriété foncière coutumière des communautés indigènes est solennellement reconnue, et ne peut être aliénée.

Art. 3

Art. 3: Tout Ariddien possède le droit à la dignité humaine, au respect, à la vie, au travail, à l’accès à un logement décent, à l’eau potable, à la nourriture, aux soins médicaux et à l’éducation. Il incombe à l’État de garantir ces droits.

Art. 4

Art. 4: Tout Ariddien est membre d’une communauté nationale et locale. A ce titre, il ou elle possède un devoir fondamental de solidarité communautaire. Nul Ariddien n’est un individu isolé de la société ; chacun, en tant que membre actif de la démocratie sociale, y possède des droits et des devoirs.

English translation

Article 1

Ariddia is a social, democratic, secular republic; it is one and indivisible. The inalienable sovereignty of the Ariddian people is expressed through its democratic institutions, referenda, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Article 2

Ariddia is, first and foremost, the Wymgani nation. The Wymgani people’s Indigenous status confers upon them an inalienable right to self-determination. It is incumbant upon the Ariddian people to know, understand and appreciate the rights, history, culture, laws, values and traditions of Wymgani communities. The customary land ownership of Indigenous communities is solemnly recognised, and may not be alienated.

Article 3

Every Ariddian has the right to human dignity, respect, life, work, and access to decent housing, drinking water, food, medical care and education. It is a responsibility of the State to guarantee these rights.

Article 4

Every Ariddian is a member of a national and local community. As such, he or she has a fundamental duty of communal solidarity. No Ariddian is a mere individual isolated from society; each, as an active member of a social democracy, has both rights and obligations.

Practical consequences of the Preamble

The Limean secession

In 2011, the island of Limea seceded unliterally under a self-proclaimed capitalist government. The Ariddian authorities immediately stated that secession was illegal under article 1 of the Constitution's Preamble, which defines Ariddia as une et indivisible. A few hours later, Thomas Riverson, a resident of Limea on holiday in Rêvane, took the matter to an Ariddian court, stating that his constitutional rights as an Ariddian citizen were about to be breached by the secessionist government. Indeed, the latter's explicitly announced policies were to repeal the State's social obligations (in Limea) as set out in article 3 of the Preamble. The court ruled in Mr. Riverson's favour, citing that it was illegal for any authority anywhere in the Ariddian Isles to enact legislation which contradicted the Constitution. The secessionists ignored the ruling, and stated that the Ariddian Constitution did not apply in their new country.

The Constitutional ban on secession made it difficult for Ariddia to extend any form of recognition to the new political entity; this marked the beginning of the "Ariddian Cold War". Only in 2055 were diplomatic relations established. At that point the Ariddian government stated that West Ariddia was "definitely not sovereign" (since that would contradict the Constitution) "but clearly independent". In later decades, Ariddian politicians began to refer to West Ariddia as "sovereign", although the 2011 court ruling still stands, and the Constitution therefore theoretically prevents the PDSRA from recognising the sovereignty of West Ariddia.

Land ownership

As per article 2 of the Constitution's Preamble, all land in Ariddia is held by Wymgani communities (on a communal ownership basis). Land may be leased to the State, but there is legally no means to buy land in Ariddia. See: Wymgani land ownership.