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A few minutes ago, at 0😇8 real-life Dutch time, the Dictatorship referendum ended. Its outcome was not surprising at all: a large favor for the option that was presented as option B:

‘The commission of a neutral player as dictator, with possible circulation for the position.’

This option was chosen by no less than 77% of all voters. A total of 39 votes were cast, accounting for 41,1% of all Dutch citizens who were entitled to vote.




As Chairman of Congress, NoTie112 (Tonie from here on) was assigned with the task of administrating this referendum. He was willing to answer some questions regarding the build up and progress of the organization and talk about the future that the Dutch community chose for itself under this “neutral dictatorship”. Talking about the whole progress, Tonie goes back to the day of the Dictator Update.




‘The dictatorship update,’ Tonie says, ‘posed an immediate danger to our small country, hence why the government during that time decided to act as if it were in a state of emergency. It was decided by that government that our own dictatorship would be set up, as to evade foreigners from setting one up in our country. Garmr, being one of the most active and dedicated eNL citizens, was selected to serve as Dictator for the meantime, until Congress has made a definitive decision on how the future of this system is to function.’

So for the time being, selecting Garmr as interim-dictator was a temporal decision to buy congress some time?
‘Yes. Eventually it was decided that such an important decision which spells the future of our country should be decided by a referendum - giving every citizen the right to voice his opinion.’

Our law states that the Chairman of Congress is obliged to administer a referendum if Congress asks for one.
‘That’s true, but I was not really on my own. Indeed the Chairman of Congress is tasked with organizing the referendum, but that includes nudging around people as well. Examples being the Ministry of Home Affairs having to update the valid citizens who can vote in this referendum and the forum moderators setting up a proper area for this referendum.’

I feel I have to give this critical note. The wider audience was informed about the start of the referendum “a few moments” before it would begin when you published an article giving the possible voting options. A week earlier, Konnes for example did indeed publish a speculative article, but do you really think the Dutch community had enough time to educate itself on the topic once knowing the referendum was really going to be there?
‘Yes, I do. For starters the Congress forum is not closed, which would be a very bad thing for our democracy if it were. Every citizen is invited and stimulated to read these forums, as it will include relevant information and debates about the future of our country. As our country is small and hardly populated, every voice is important and will be taken in high regard, so there's no need to shy away from them either if you don't happen to be a Congress Member.’

So you encourage young citizens to keep track of Congress discussions?
‘Yes, very much. If you’re not in Congress it doesn’t mean you can’t contribute. For example, last month I wasn't a Congress Member yet I worked with others on finalizing a proposal (on the removal of honorary titles).’

Tonie continues: ‘I do think there was enough time for people to educate themselves. It was almost unnoticeable to not have got the note a referendum was coming by those who are willing to educate themselves. Be it by the media, by their political party, by IRC or by reading our forums. The article really was not meant to introduce people to subject (although I did include some relevant information for those wanting to catch-up) as there were plenty of other opportunities for that, but merely for announcing the details on when the referendum was taking place and other administrative affairs.’

The referendum’s outcome was an astonishing favor for option B. What should be done next and who is going to be this neutral dictator whom the people chose? Will there, again, be a referendum on this decision?
‘It really wasn't unexpected that option B would be the choice. In that sense the referendum was more symbolic of our democratic values than being necessary.

It will mean that Congress will need to work with legalizing this direction i.e. getting the details debated and have it written in laws. Obviously there are still a lot of details on which not everyone is agreeing, hence why surely some heated debates will follow.

I really don't think it's fitting for me in this article (as I'm speaking as CoC) to speak out my mind regarding the ''neutrality'' of this supposed Dictator (and hence who should be Dictator), as I clearly differ with some others on that although I do agree with those on voting B. In any case, I do think this one referendum will suffice, as referenda are the ultimatum remedium of getting approval and should hardly be used at all.’

You don’t want to speak out your mind regarding the future “dictator”, but isn’t it just as inappropriate to say the referendum was symbolic and in fact unnecessary? Isn’t that against your neutrality as CoC?
‘I don't think the neutrality of CoC is relevant in this very question. I am not favouring one option above others (as person I do, though) but merely stating what can be said based on rationality. A case could be made that this anticipation could perhaps affect the opinion of the voters, but I don't think that's an issue as I'm speaking this far in the referendum in an interview (2 hours before closing, red.), not in official instruction preceding the referendum.’

The quorum for every referendum to be legal is 35% of all forum-registered Dutch citizens. This referendum just met that by 5 votes. Do you think this says anything about our community and if so, what?
‘It says nothing surprising about our community. Every eCommunity is only partly participating in politics (just as in real life). We're already struggling to fill our current Congress of 20 members properly, and then we're speaking about merely needing roughly 10% of the population to be politically aware. Actually, I think many with me share that it went surprisingly easy this time around to reach the quorum. There have been referenda in the past that didn't even make it past the quorum.
As I have repeatedly sai😛 It's not necessarily a good thing to ''force'' people to vote, as that will result in the feared uneducated votes. That's why this referendum wasn't heavily pushed by mass messages but kept a tactical balance between active and passive advertising.’

Thank you so much for this interview.
‘It was a pleasure. I hope to have given an interesting and educative insight “backstage” of the referendum.’




Do you want to read more on this subject?
Day 2,653: Click here to read the official Dictator Notification by the eRep Admins.

February 24: Click here to read the Congress debate considering the Dictator Update.

Day 2,654: Click here to read a critical article on the pro’s and cons of dictatorship by Djirtsdew.

Day 2,656: Click here to read the official Dictatorship Clarifications by the eRep Admins.

Day 2,662: Click here to read Konnes’s article speculating the oncoming of a Dictator referendum.

Day 2,668: Click here to read the Congress notification of the referendum.

Day 2,669: Click here to read the motivations some prominent Dutch citizens gave to their vote.