Hokorians have voted to enter free association with the Kingdom of Vistaria. The referendum closed at midnight on October 18 with 16 ballots cast, representing a turnout of 25%. Nine citizens voted to approve the Hokorian Free Association Act while seven voted against, giving the proposal 56.25% of the vote.
Turnout was up from just 16.95% in the August Parliamentary election, when the Koru’s Office was unable to email citizens due to technical issues with a new email system. An email was sent for this referendum, although not until several hours after voting opened. Announcements were also published through the usual government website and Discord channels.
Under the new arrangement, Hokoria remains a sovereign and self-governing nation with its own Parliament, Government and citizenship. Vistaria will take responsibility for foreign affairs and diplomacy, defence and security, justice and elections, while Parliament retains the power to take those responsibilities back.
Two different sides
The result follows weeks of debate over Hokoria’s future, beginning with the Kora’s unsuccessful proposal to dissolve the state and make Dama and Serenia constituent Nations of Vistaria.
MP Ellie Penhollow opposed free association, arguing that while Hokoria would not immediately lose sovereignty, the referendum was a “gateway” towards the Kora’s longer-term ambition of integration. Willow disputed this, pointing out that integration would require another decision by Parliament and a further national referendum, but remained open about supporting it.
“I don’t want to see Hokoria go but I feel it’s what has to be done,” the Kora said, challenging MPs to prove her wrong over the coming month by making the existing system work.
Former Prime Minister Aurora d’Orléans offered a different assessment, supporting Hokorian independence while agreeing that inactivity remains a serious problem. Her comments follow her resignation as Prime Minister in June, when she criticised the Kora for repeatedly changing its system of government while failing to address deeper problems with community activity.
During the referendum debate, d’Orléans argued that officials frequently holding senior positions across several micronations had resulted in Hokoria being “backburner’d to death”, warning that “unless that structural issue is addressed, the case for absorption will grow by the week.”
And now?
Willow welcomed the result as an “excellent outcome”, but warned that she does not believe free association will solve the inactivity which led her to propose integration in the first place.
“The Hokorian people have seen that there are issues with governance in the Hokorian State and voted for change,” she said. “However, as I have previously stated, free association simply delays the inevitable and will not result in the Hokorian Government becoming more active.”
The Kora says she will now publish weekly reports documenting activity in both Vistaria and Hokoria, intending to demonstrate whether the new arrangement is working.