Serene Republic of the Union of Aspinburgh

Officially the Serene Republic of the Union of Aspinburgh, Aspinburgh is a independent and sovereign micronation located in North America.

Serene Republic of the Union of Aspinburgh
Flag Flag Coat of Arms Coat of arms
Motto: Our strength is not found in our love of liberty, but in our willingness to defend liberty.
Anthem: Song of the Motherland
File:North America
Capital	Tatsumiya Village
Official languages	English (official), Swedish
Demonym(s)	Aspinburghian
Government	Direct Democracy, Parliamentarian Republic
• President	office vacant
• Prime Minister	Stephen Paffens Jr.
• Founder	Robert Brussels
Legislature	Union Council
Establishment	July 30, 2009
Population
• Census	18
Currency	US dollar (defacto)
Website Government website

History

Founding

Aspinburgh was founded on July 30, 2009 by Robert Brussels with support from John Brussels and Stephen Paffens Jr. Several weeks earlier Robert had come across Sealand and Molossia and was interested in the ideas of micronations. After discussing the matter with his family and good friend Stephen, it was decided to form Aspinburgh and declare the Brussels house and land to be the land property of the new country. The provisional government was headed by the President of the Provisional-Transitional Government, at first Robert Brussels, then later John Brussels.

First Republic

On September 22, 2009 elections where held for President, National Assembly and other offices.Robert was overwhelming elected President with 89.9% of the vote. All winning candidates where sworn in on September 30, 2009 and the first republic was formally established. During this period a website was created and the country began to reach out to other micronations. A national flag and symbols where adopted and the armed forces built up.

Kingdom

John Brussels pushed for a constitutional monarchy system to replace the current presidential republic, with himself as King. On November 30, 2009, with consent from Robert Brussels and the National Assembly the Kingdom of Aspinburgh was declared and a constitution, the first in the country's history, was adopted. New elections where called for and Robert assumed the post of Prime Minister (as interim).

The Christmas Coup

However, a power struggle soon developed between royalists (the King) and democrats (Robert Brussels). On December 28, under the order of the King, members of the Royal Armed Forces placed Robert under arrest and announced that they had lead a coup to "save the country". The following day Robert was formally dismissed as Prime Minister and put on trail, where, after 5 minutes, he was found guilty of treason and exiled form the country. Although it occurred on December 28, the coup became popularly known as the "Christmas Coup".On December 31, 2009 he formed the People's Liberation Front and attempted to overthrow the monarchy. A power struggle was fought until on January 7, 2010 a peace treaty was signed and a provisional government was formed, with Robert as head of the Provisional Congress.

Principality

The Provisional Congress worked to reach an agreement with all the political fractions in the country and on February 1, 2010 a deal was reach. The country, which since January 7 has been a republic, would become a constitutional monarchy with a purely ceremonial head of state. All power would rest in the hands of an elected parliament. As part of the deal, the armed forces and the liberation front where both abolished. Robert became Regent of the Throne on February 1 and later Sovereign prince on March 1, 2010. Elections where held in late February for parliament and on March 3 the Provisional Congress was abolished and replace with the People's National Parliament. Stephen Paffens Jr. was elected as Prime Minister. Robert later abdicated as Prince to seek a seat in the parliament and was replaced first by Jeff Swed as Regent, then by his father, John Brussels as Grand Prince. The Principality era saw massive reforms in the country. National parks where declared, construction projects started, a farming program formalized and general political stability and peace.

However, in June the village of New Stockholm declare itself an independent country and broke from the Principality. The Police stormed the village under the order of Robert Brussels and defeated the village. Parliament condemned the police action as Robert had taken it without the consent of the government.

This is when tensions between Prime Minister Paffens Jr. and Police Chief Robert Brussels began and a secret power struggle started. On July 23, 2010 the Prime Minister dismissed Robert from his cabinet offices and as Chief of Police. The following day Robert's two brothers, both members, of the police force took control of the government office and Robert appeared on state tv to announce that he was, in fact, still in control of the police force. Although Stephen Paffens Jr. still held the title of Prime Minister and thus, constitutionally, was the head of the government, the police had in fact taken control of the whole country.

Police Rule

Despite all these problems, Aspinburgh was able to peacefully celebrate her first anniversary of Independence with official ceremonies and a picnic. However, following the celebrations the police once again began there dictatorship of the country. Stephen Paffens Jr. was secretly working with then king of Starland, Nik Hart and formed an alliance with him to overthrow Robert Brussels. On August 9, 2010 Stephen, with support from his father and villagers of Paffenburgh, lead a rebellion against the central government and declared Nik Hart as their head of state. Robert rallied support from Aspinburgh's traditional allies and Prince John (John Brussels) declared himself Supreme Commander of the police.

Robert resigned as Chief of Police and appointed his brother Michael Brussels as his successor. He also replaced Stephen as Prime Minister with his sister in law Amber Moscow. The following day the police force crushed the rebellion and Nik Hart was forced by his own government to abdicate. Robert held a police congress on September 7 was was unanimously elected a Supreme Commander. He began to rule by decree and the parliament and prime minster where simply figure heads.

Second Republic

On October 16, 2010 Robert abolished the monarchy and declared a socialist republic. He became Prime Minister and ruled as both Head of State and Government. In December elections where held for the newly formed People's Council and Robert's party won 80% of the seats, creating a de-facto one party state. During this time little progress was made and the country was regarded as unstable by most micrnations. Robert grew increasingly dictatorial and would ban tv shows, music, books and art that he declared to be "immoral" or "against the culture of the motherland." In mid-January 2011 citizens began to protest by refusing to take part in government events, members of the People's Council refused to vote and a general strike was held nationwide calling on Robert to step down as paramount leader and for mufti-party democracy to be reintroduced to the country.

Robert demanded that a vote be taken to see if the majority wanted the country to continue or be dissolved. He vowed to step down if the majority decided to continue with the nation. On January 17 the vote took place and the majority voted to continue Aspinburgh. Robert resigned as Chairman of the People's Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Supreme Commandeer and other offices. The People's Council voted to form the 5 member Assembly of Regents as a provisional body to bring about reforms. On February 11, 2011 the Serene Republic of the Union of Aspinburgh was declared by the Assembly of Regents. Since Robert was the funding father they asked him to read the statement.

Union and Present History

With the formation of the Union of Aspinburgh, the police rule and single party state was officially ended. The government went about dismantling many of the radical polices put in place by Robert. A new form of government was introduced where each village was given more control over its own affairs and the size and power of the central government was greatly reduced. On April 11, 2011 elections where held for the legislature and on April 14 the Assembly of Regents handed power over to the elected government. Since then the country has set about rebuilding the economy, infrastructure and reestablishing ties with foreign micronations. A new constitution is currently being written and presidential elections are planned for mid-June.