Led by former Minister Lee, Several GNP Officials Question the Monarchy
October 3279
While the 94-year-old Queen Victoria I is preparing to hand over power to her son Nataniel I, the republican wing of the GNP, which has been severly weakened after Prime Minister Larissa LeCoultre restored the monarchy in 3250, is once more questioning the legitimacy of the monarchy. Lee Jong-Kyu, a former cabinet member and inactive GNP politician, has today held a press conference alongside other anti-monarchist GNP members to speak out in favor of a republic with a democratically elected president. "I'm not quite supportive of a system in which the taxpayers have to prop up a privileged family to enable them a live in luxury and carefreeness. Moreover, the Royal Family did nothing to encounter the falling interest in politics. The seem to lay back in their palace and ignore their job", Lee ranted. The 81-year-old former minister, who is currently running a center for the history and culture of the Kyo minority in the city of Soyolango, then demanded a referendum to decide about the sake of the monarchy. "The royals cannot stay in power forever if they are not legitimated by the people. I am also disappointed of my own party's leaders, because they don't pay attention to the fact that many GNP members - even some active MPs - want to get rid of the monarchy immediately." Lee concluded by saying that he wished to put an end to the monarchy after the tenure of the incumbent Queen, not only because he opposed the monarchy, but also because he said to consider Crown Prince Nataniel an "inadequate successor". "Nataniel has stated support for Scientology, a manipulating fraud of a religion. A Head of State should make no comments on religion", Lee ended his speech.
Alongside Lee, the press conference was attended by several prominent GNP members, such as Majority Leader Janine Trichet, former Magadonia Governor Arnold Woolridge and former Minister for Justice Kang Joo-hae. Trichet also issued a brief statement, saying that she was present "not to state my opposition to the monarchy, but to hear different opinions. I am not a dogmatic monarchist."
While Prime Minister refuses to comment, other officials calm down
After the comments of Lee and other anti-monarchist politicians, a reporter of a well-known TV channel asked Prime Minister Alina Delarosa to explain her stance on the monarchy. She refused to make a comment, calling the ongoing debate an "internal discussion" which she does not intend to interfere with. However, GNP's interim Chairwoman Marit Jensson sent out a press release in which she denied that the GNP wanted to abolish the monarchy: "The GNP's official position remains unchanged. We are neutral on the monarchy. It is only natural for a large party to include a variety of opinions."