The Gjorkan Ostlandet Union membership referendum, commonly referred to as the OU referendum, is a planned referendum in Gjorka scheduled to take place on August 4, 2024 to ask the electorate whether the country should remain a member of the Ostlandet Union (OU) or leave.
Gjorka is one of the founding members of the OU, with the country even hosting the 2022 Gjorka City summit which led to the foundation of the Union. However, the issue of Gjorka's membership in the Union has been a topic of debate since its founding. Immediately following the Gjorka City Declaration, the National Social Party (PSN), Gjorka's fourth largest party, announced it's withdrawal from the right-wing National Coalition over Gjorka United's support of the OU. The OU initially received a popularity boost after the Union militarily intervened in Ajakanistan in response to the Castlederg missile strike, but this support wavered as the OU's progress stalled and Gjorkan casualties increased. Once the war finished, debate arose about wether Gjorka was responsible for rebuilding the country and participating the OU occupation of Ajakanistan. Th OU's popularity took its biggest following the military intervention in Akvatika. In a poll by the Gjorka Times, only 36% supported supported Gjorka's involvement with another 47% actively opposing any involvement.
Following the loss of it's majority in several district senates in the 2023 district senate elections, Gjorka United was forced to enter into negotiations with PSN to rejoin the National Coalition to secure a majority. As part of the agreement between the two parties, President Carter Morris announced she was calling for a referendum to be held on Gjorka's membership in the OU, with the referendum swiftly being approved in by the National Assembly; albeit by a slim majority. The referendum is legally non-binding, though Morris has pledged to acknowledge the results of the referendum.
Since the announcement of the referendum, nearly all Gjorkan parties have announced their stance on the referendum. Parties in favour of Stay include Gjorka United, the Green Party, and the Gjorkan Pirate Party; while the National Social Party (PSN) and Éirígí support Leave; and Forward Gjorka and the Freedom Party choosing to remain neutral. In spite of the official positions of Gjorka United and Forward Gjorka, factions within each party have campaigned separately with the Wolf Caucus and Forward with Socialism both supporting Leave. Many political scholars have argued the referendum is less about Gjorka leaving the OU and more a vote of approval on Morris's presidency, with the creation of the OU being a major policy point of her administration.
Elections and referendums in Gjorka
