@Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGPMr. Speaker, this is an honest curiosity that arises from the agreement by the URL to abstain on votes of confidence. I thought we had passed some kind of changes to the rules concerning the Official Opposition but it failed to pass the Senats. The last reference to an official definition I can find comes from 53RZ10 The Leader of the Opposition (Restoration) Bill authored by Miestra Schiva:
QuoteMembers of the Cosâ who (in a given session of the Cosa) have voted NON on the most recent Vote of Confidence, or intend to do so on the next Vote of Confidence, shall be known as El Contrapharti Fieir da Sieu Maxhestà, or "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition" in English, or in short "El Contrapharti / The Opposition". Unless and until the members of the Opposition decide otherwise by majority vote, the "Leader of the Opposition" shall be the leader of the party with the most Cosa seats assigned to MCs who voted NON on the last Vote of Confidence.
Most members of the URL abstained on the confidence vote last month while the Green Party voted entirely against confidence. Based on the law as defined by 53RZ10, until the majority vote by members of the Opposition to state otherwise (which I assume could be arranged quickly) does this mean that the Green Party is the official Opposition?
It's not in my position to interpret the law, but in my unqualified layman's opinion that seems to be the case.
Personally I believe it would be more reasonable to define the Opposition as whoever has not voted ÜC or does not intend to vote ÜC on the VoC instead (i.e. everyone who isn't explicitly part of the Government; this would match my intuitive understanding of what "opposition" means in parliamentary contexts). Perhaps something that this Cosă should look into.
Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on Yesterday at 09:15:02 PMIt's not in my position to interpret the law, but in my unqualified layman's opinion that seems to be the case.
Personally I believe it would be more reasonable to define the Opposition as whoever has not voted ÜC or does not intend to vote ÜC on the VoC instead (i.e. everyone who isn't explicitly part of the Government; this would match my intuitive understanding of what "opposition" means in parliamentary contexts). Perhaps something that this Cosă should look into.
Sincere respect for this response, Marcel. I agree there needs to be some reworking of that definition.
In the meantime, the Greens will do our best as HM Loyal Opposition.
From my understanding, the precedent -- exemplified as recently as last term when Baron Davinescu consistently voted against confidence, while other members of his party would sometimes vote in favor -- was that because at least one part of the Progressive Alliance was part of the Opposition, they were the largest Opposition party, and therefore as their leader, S:reu Sant-Enogat was LOTO.
As Sir Marti-Pair voted Non on the last Clark, under the precedent, the URL qualifies as "the Opposition" for the moment still.
That being said, as someone who has authored legislation (https://wiki.talossa.com/Law:61RZ12_Opposition_Redefinition_Act) intended to make approximately the same change, I think it should be clear I think the current definition is bonkers, so yes, we should make a change.