Fourth National Assembly called to first meeting

Fourth National Assembly called to first meeting

The Fourth National Assembly to be elected under the Constitution of the Third Republic was called into session by the President of the Republic on Tuesday this week in accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution.

Under the constitution (Article 106) a session of the National Assembly begins on the first meeting of the assembly summoned under Article 107 and continues for a period of 5 years – unless it is sooner dissolved.

The first meeting of the assembly at the beginning of a session must be devoted to the swearing in of the members and the election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker as well as that of the Leader of the Opposition. Only members who are not of the party of the President of the Republic can vote in the election of the leader of Opposition according to the Constitution. Once again Wavel Ramkalawan was elected Leader of Opposition

Dr Patrick Herminie from the SPPF was elected Speaker, while Mr Wilby Lucas became the Deputy Speaker. However, the appointment of Mrs Marylise Potter by the President of the Republic to the position of Leader of Government Business remains a controversial issue. The Constitution does not provide for such a position, unlike that of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition.