Republicans prepare to sabotage monarchical propaganda prior to the coronation of Carlos III

Armed with yellow T-shirts and banners proclaiming “Not my king”more than a thousand people summoned by the Republic pressure group, which advocates replacing the monarch with an elected president, will demonstrate on Saturday with a clear objective: “Subverting the public relations of the monarchy”.

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This is expressed by the leader of the association, the veteran anti-monarchist activist graham smith, who assures that the protest will be “peaceful and pleasant.” Although there will be megaphones, provocative slogans and possibly booing, “no eggs will be thrown”promises.

“We don’t want to disrupt the procession, just show the world that in the UK there is growing opposition to the monarchy. Throwing eggs or other objects ends with arrests and it is not what we wantyes”, he declared to the press.

The followers of the group founded in 1983, which says they have increased to 130,000 after the death of Elizabeth II on September 8, will position themselves at key points in the coronation procession, between the Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, with a “noisy” contingent in Trafalgar Square.

Although it is still a minority group, with the relief in the british royal house and their internal problems there is no doubt that Republicwhich is “apolitical”, is gaining prominence.

According to its CEO, their income from donations in recent months is close to 300,000 pounds (341,320 euros) and this month they have earned about 37,000 (42,000 euros) with the sale of anti-monarchy material.

In his opinion, the death of the sovereign at the age of 96 “has created fertile ground for the growth of republicanism”, since her heir does not inspire the same admiration or deference as she did and, furthermore, “times have changed”.

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LESS SUPPORT FOR THE MONARCHY

A recent survey of YouGov among 4,592 Britons revealed that only 32% of young people between 18 and 24 years of age support the monarchical institution, while 38% would want a head of elected statewith 30% undecided.

58% of the total (and 78% of those over 65) support it -compared to 26% who oppose it-, but this percentage is far from the 88% who considered it very important in 1969, points out the political scientist john curtice.

“Cwhen he was crowned Isabel II 70 years ago, the monarchy seemed to provide a solid foundation for a country recovering from the ravages of war”, he explains in a report published by the study center “UK in a changing Europe”.

“On the contrary, the king charles inherits an institution that, while still popular, has a more difficult task of justifying itself in the eyes of public opinion.” adds.

Curtice warns, however, that polls on support for the monarchy tend to fluctuate in line with events and have already fallen, for example, during the “Annus horribilis” of 1992, in which three of the queen’s children were separated or divorced, including Carlosof the Princess Diana.

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DEBATE ON THE ALTERNATIVE

In the same report, Craig PrescottProfessor of Constitutional Law at the Welsh University of Bangoraffirms that “the beginning of a new reign is an opportunity to take stock” of the institution.

Although no British political party defends a republic -some deputies do so individually- Prescott sees it feasible, if enough support were generated, that there would be “a change of the constitutional order” as it happened with him Brexitthrough a referendum followed by parliamentary ratification.

The academic points out that “many countries of the Commonwealth (commonwealth of former British territories) are already considering disassociating themselves” from the Crown, as Australia, Jamaica, Belize or Antigua and Barbuda.

Regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the monarchy compared to a parliamentary republic, it is worth noting that the elected presidents “They can represent different aspects of the nation (gender, race, sexuality) in a way that is impossible for a hereditary monarchy.”

On the other hand, the monarchy “projects continuity through ceremonies and iconography that allow us to find solace in the presumed glories of the past”.

“Any move towards a republic is more likely to happen if it coincides with a time when a radical political and economic change”, says this expert.

Abolishing the monarchy without further ado, in the absence of a deeper transformation, “does not have to result in a more just or democratic society,” he warns.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.