1st Parliament of South America

[PJ]

Aye

[PJ]

Mr. Speaker,

I echo the statement of Honorable Member and fellow Socialist comrade Widdershins. The establishment of a constitution is absolutely necessary when structuring a government that will have the power to protect the rights and needs of society's most disadvantaged. While I (and the entirety of the Socialist Party) are usually in disagreement with the ruling Conservatives, I do hope we can agree on this constitution's necessity. I don't agree with either of the two proposed amendments by the Workers Party or the Pioneers, respectively. To have a frankly austere approach to the number of government offices to the point of combining offices which have completely separate duties, such as combining the roles of president and prime minister, is a slap in the face to the concept of parliamentarianism. The same can be said of the amendment proposed by the Honorable Member Sanchez, which seeks to circumvent parliament in favor of modeling the government of our republic after the right-wing monstrosity of a state that is Switzerland through overdependence on "direct democracy." The concept of a referendum on constitutional amendments is especially unsuited to our situation, in which a substantial proportion of our population are already MPs.

[PJ]

Amendment 1: Nay
Amendment 2: Nay

[PJ]

Aye

[PJ]

I note that Mr. Theodore Cranberry has been elected as the Parliamentary Leader of the Socialist Party and, in accordance with my ruling on Wednesday, is duly recognized as the Leader of the Opposition.

However, considering that Mr. Cranberry is not at the present a Member of Parliament, he may not participate in any debates or activities within the House.  While Mr. Cranberry remains outside of the House, I would ask the Socialist grouping within the House to designate to me a Member to serve on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition within the House.

Would it not be easier to replace Crabcake with Cranberry?

Our constitution, drafted by the Conservatives, fails to address the issue of inactive or resigning MPs.

[PJ]

Nay

[PJ]

Aye

[PJ]

Nay

[PJ]

Nay

[PJ]

Nay FTR