The Guardian view on the Commonwealth: an unsure future under King Charles III | Editorial
GuardianSep 13, 2022
On Wednesday, lawmakers rejected a motion by the Bloc Québécois party to end Canada's relationship with the British monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, now the ceremonial "head of state" of the North American country.
Although the constitutional monarchy serves a largely symbolic role in the Canadian system as the country's government is entirely autonomous, the beginning of the new monarch's reign this year has renewed debate about the sovereignty of nations in the Commonwealth.
Blanchet's motion is evidence of the weakness of the Commonwealth in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death. The constitutional restraints imposed on British monarchs mean the institution is perpetually antiquated and that Charles III is unable to move politics in a progressive direction in the UK, let alone abroad. Dissolution is now lapping against the shores of the UK.
The accession of Charles III is an opportunity to further strengthen the commonwealth. This international union has the opportunity to redefine itself and carve out new purposes by appointing professionals to help members deal with domestic problems and by turning itself into an economic entity. Leadership from the UK can facilitate the development of the Commonwealth into an enforcer of a rules-based international system — something crucially needed in an era of authoritarian regimes ambitious to expand.
There's a 10% chance that King Charles III will abdicate before September 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.