16th of July 2025

SHARDILAND CHANNEL 7 NEWS OPENS FIRST BROADCAST WITH FOCUS ON LEGAL FOUNDATIONS

By Staff Writer | Shardiland Herald

JULY 16, 2025 — In a historic moment for the emerging nation of Shardiland, SC7N — Shardiland Channel 7 News aired its first national broadcast, delivering a clear message: this nation will be built not through force, but through law.

Presented by anchor Liam Johnson, the broadcast centred on the release of the Organic Law of the State of Shardiland (OLOS), the introduction of political movements, and the legal philosophy guiding the country’s institutional birth.

“Shardiland is not yet a state — but already it is guided by law,” Johnson stated at the opening of the report.

A Legal Framework Before Sovereignty

The central announcement was the completion of the Organic Law of the State of Shardiland, or OLOS, which sets out the legal and institutional foundations for Shardiland in its pre-foundational phase.

The document is composed of over sixty articles across nine titles, defining the organisation of the future Parliament, the responsibilities of the executive, the rights and obligations of symbolic citizens, and the procedures for future democratic transitions. Most importantly, it is designed to function even before the acquisition of territory or formal diplomatic recognition.

The OLOS is intended not as a manifesto, but as a constitutional roadmap. It establishes a legal order that can operate prior to sovereignty — a model rarely attempted, and one grounded in methodical realism.

Inspired by Peaceful Transition: From Law to Law

Johnson highlighted the intellectual inspiration behind Shardiland’s approach: the Spanish democratic transition of the late twentieth century, and in particular the legal vision of Torcuato Fernández-Miranda, architect of Spain’s post-Franco constitutional reform.

“From law to law, through law,” said Johnson, quoting Fernández-Miranda’s famous phrase,
“It was the foundation of Spain’s peaceful transition to democracy, and it is now the foundation of Shardiland’s peaceful creation.”

Rather than declare independence unilaterally or create institutions by force, Shardiland seeks to develop its legal and civic identity first, and only later seek international recognition based on the strength and maturity of its institutions.

Political Parties Take Shape

Two political formations were formally announced during the broadcast:

• The Progressive Movement of Shardiland, which supports science-based governance, education, and civic development;
  
  

• And the Royalist Party of Shardiland, which, despite its symbolic name, does not advocate monarchy, but represents cultural tradition, institutional continuity, and national memory.
  
  

Each party will have one appointed representative during the pre-foundational phase. Elections will be held only after territory is legally secured and the constitutional process matures further.

Symbolic Citizenship and Civic Participation

Though the nation has no territory yet, its citizenry is already forming.
The broadcast reiterated the Founders’ invitation to those who believe in the vision of Shardiland to become symbolic citizens — not with legal status, but with civic intention.

Such individuals are encouraged to study the OLOS, follow political developments, and prepare to participate actively in public life once the nation is formally constituted.

The National Flag

Also unveiled during the broadcast was the official flag of Shardiland.

Its design features:

• A wide blue upper band, representing peace, clarity, and aspiration;
  
  

• Two red rectangles below, each containing a yellow five-pointed star, symbolising strength, sovereignty, and civic will;
  
  

• And a bold purple vertical stripe in the centre — standing for unity, dignity, and the primacy of law.
  
  

This flag has been approved by unanimous decision of the Founders and is now a central symbol of the project’s identity.

Ailsa Craig: A Candidate, Not a Claim

Though Shardiland does not currently possess land, Johnson confirmed that the island of Ailsa Craig, off the coast of Scotland, has been identified as a potential candidate for territorial establishment.

The Founders have emphasised that no claims have been made.
All discussions remain internal, and no steps will be taken without full compliance with international law and diplomatic norms.

This approach reaffirms the project’s legalist philosophy — territory must follow law, not precede it.

A Closing of Quiet Confidence

“This is not a simulation,” Johnson concluded.
“It is a real constitutional and civic project. Built slowly. Built lawfully. And built for the future.”

Further broadcasts are expected weekly, covering legal structures, education plans, symbolic elections, and the gradual institutional shaping of what may, one day, become the Republic of Shardiland.

For now, the Founders are building something rarely attempted:
A nation not born from rebellion — but from rules.