Reaffirming the Constitution of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia
April 14, 2023
The constitution of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia was approved in a Futa Koyang (Mapuche parliament) in 1860 by the grace, wisdom and power of the highest authorities of the Mapuche nation headed by Toki Magñil and the lawyer Orelie-Antoine de Tounens. The constitution has remained in force and is the fundamental law that includes rights and obligations by which the Kingdom and its officials have been governed for more than 160 years.
Yesterday, contrary to articles 5 & 65 of the constitution and additional act, four former officials of the Kingdom, violate the constitution and additional regulations and, without any reservations, called a meeting with anonymous participation in an unknown location in France, in a vain attempt to establish a new and illegitimate Prince .
On March 21, Prince Federico I issued Royal Decree No. 2023/02 removing the four people concerned from their posts and stripping them of all corresponding honours and titles. However, the rebels denied the validity of their dismissal, and claiming the right to remove the legitimate Prince, proceeded unofficially to appoint Mr. Philippe Delorme as a successor. It is important to highlight that such action is wholly unconstitutional and runs contrary to the democratic considerations of the majority of legitimate members of the councils of the Kingdom who have remained loyal to the Prince.
Crucially, the Additional Act to the Constitution of the Kingdom promulgated by Prince Antonio IV – 2016, establishes strict provisions which identify the unique conditions under which a successor may be appointed under an elective monarchy. This system was already implemented customarily since the death of King Aurelio-Antonio I in September 1878.
Article 5 of the Act (2016) establishes that “to ensure the interval between the end of one Reign and the beginning of another,” a Regency Council, made up of members of the Council of State and Council of the King will be established when the vacancy of the throne is confirmed. “This vacancy is produced either by the death of the reigning Sovereign, or by his free and voluntary abdication.”
Today, with a diverse cultural and gender balanced team of both Mapuche and international counsellors occupying positions at the highest level of the Kingdom, which reflects the original composition of the Kingdom at its inception, and with renewed optimism and vitality, under the leadership of Prince Federico I, the Kingdom continues in its support of the Mapuche people and their Struggle for the respect of their fundamental freedoms, human rights, territorial integrity and self-determination. Prince Frederick I noted:
“On March 24, 2018, in the presence of a large Mapuche delegation, I took an oath on the Constitution of 1860, to perpetuate the work of Orélie-Antoine, dedicating myself until my death to defending the rights of the Mapuche people and other native peoples present in the territory of the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia, it was a moment of intense emotion that made this day the most important of my life.” In this way, we hope that the Kingdom will be an important contribution in the struggle of the Mapuche Nation for the reconquest of its rights, including its territory, autonomy and self-determination recognised by international law.
Signed by
Dame Jessica Louarn
Chancellor
Member of the Council of State
President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Dame Nina Saleh Ahmed
Chairman of the King’s Council
Count Mariqueo of Lul-lul Mawidha
Charge d’affaires on International Relations
Vice President of the Council of State
Domingo Paine
Vice President of the King’s Council