Opening of the First Aldurian Parliament

[Alduria]

OPENING OF THE FIRST ALDURIAN PARLIAMENT

 

SCHEDULE

• 9:30am to 10:00am —  The President hosts a National Breakfast in the Executive Mansion for government officials and newly elected members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister-elect and his incoming Government.
  
• 11:00am - The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alduria arrives to the Palace of Parliament with the Associate Justices, where all the elected members of Parliament are assembled. The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices begin to swear in all 252 members of Parliament.
  
• 11:30am - The President emerges from the Executive Mansion, boards a vehicle escorted by security and law enforcement, and is taken to the Palace of Parliament.
  
• 12:30pm - As the last of the oaths of office are administered, the religious leaders will offer prayers and readings to the Parliament. The President begins with some brief remarks and officially opens the session of Parliament. Afterward, the President begins the process to elect the Speaker of the Parliament.
  
• 1:30pm - The first session of Parliament elects its Speaker, the gavel is passed from the President to the newly elected Speaker of Parliament.
  

[Alejandro Campos]

The President calls the meeting to order, raps the gavel two times.

"Order! Order!"

"We begin this session by opening the floor to nominations for  Speaker of this Parliament. The role is important - pause to consider that the Speaker shall ascend to the Presidency in case of the incapacitation of the President. A judicious and able person is needed for this role."

"The floor shall be now open to nominations."

[Alduria]

OOC NOTE: Parties are welcome to nominate one of their actual players to serve as the Speaker. Parties can also nominate an NPC character created by them to serve as Speaker, but have it be controlled by the player that created that NPC. We could also opt for an admin-controlled Speaker, but I am usually bad at keeping things going regularly as a presiding officer. I would prefer if another active player took over the role instead so it's not all dependent on me.

All of this will also depend on what the Rules of Order establish. In the Rules of Order you will have the chance to create a role for the Speaker - do you want him or her to be an impartial high officer? Or a more partisan one in the style of the US House of Representatives? That will all be determined by the Rules of Order Parliament eventually adopts.

Some other notes about the Speaker, from the Constitution:

• From Article 16: "If, for whatever reason, the Presidency of the Republic falls vacant, or if the incapacity of the President has been certified, at the request of the Government and by an absolute majority of its members, the functions of the President are performed temporarily by the Speaker of the Parliament."
  
• From Article 21: "The President of the Republic may pronounce the dissolution of the Parliament, after consulting the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament. A general election takes place not less than twenty and not more than forty days after the dissolution. No new dissolution may take place during the year following these elections."
  
• From Article 25: "When there exists a serious and immediate threat to the institutions of the Republic, the independence of the Nation, the integrity of its territory, or the fulfillment of its international obligations, and the regular functioning of the constitutional public authorities has been interrupted, the President of the Republic takes the measures required by the circumstances, after consulting officially the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament."
  
• From Article 39: "The Speaker of Parliament is elected for the life of each Parliament. It shall be the duty of each Parliament to elect a Speaker as its first order of business."
  
• From Article 52: "If the Supreme Court, consulted by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister or the Speaker of the Parliament, has declared that an international obligation includes a clause contrary to the Constitution, authorization to ratify or approve it may be accorded only after revision of the Constitution."
  

[Yakim Beg]

EDP Caucus: His Sublimity the Agha Yakim Beg advises that he graciously consents to be nominated for the post of Speaker.

[Alfonso Velez]

Mr. President,

On behalf of the Government-Elect, I nominate Maria Rejo of the Liberty & Democracy party to the office of Speaker.

[Seydlitz]

Mr President,

As we begin the life of this Parliament, the first for our nascent, glorious Republic, I am reminded of the importance of symbolism.

In the course of the campaign, I have worked alongside my distinguished gentlelady colleague, and come to know her. I have seen what she is like when under enormous stress, and I have seen her perform at her stellar best, nevertheless. Her qualities as a leader and manager were evident, and it is no surprise that she won her seat, such was the full faith and confidence of her constituency in her abilities.

Women hold up half of Alduria. With apologies to the President, I dare say that it is about time that we acknowledge Alduria's better half, and give them a better and stronger voice in the governance of this, our Republic.

It is therefore my distinct honor and privilege to second the nomination of my colleague and partymate, Maria Rejo, and yield.

[Alduria]

Nominations will close today at 7:59 PM Sunday, Eastern Time (ET).

- 12:59 AM Monday, in London, UK
- 7:59 AM Monday, in Manila, Philippines

The nomination of Maria Rejo is duly seconded.

Nomination period continues.

[Tzvi Barak]

(OOC: Sorry, I was on a family vacation. Thankfully, I am back now.)

Mr. President,

On behalf of the New Center Party, we nominate Jose Ortega to hold the post of speaker.

[Alduria]

Nomination period has closed.

We will now proceed to a vote.

Order, order!

Please cast your vote for any of the above nominees:
- The Agha Yakim Beg
- Maria Rejo
- Jose Ortega

Vote will start now and go on for 48 hours or until everyone has voted.

[Alfonso Velez]

Maria Rejo