Joël Arseneau believes that if the Parti Québécois (PQ) and Quebec Solidaire (QS) do not gain parliamentary caucus status, the proper functioning of the National Assembly will be at risk.
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According to the vice-president of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, when the PQ and QS represent almost 30% of the electorate, they must fear “democratic denial” if they are not recognized.
Nevertheless, Mr. Arsenio affirms that he is not concerned about the fate of his political party. He recalled that all parties would agree to change the parliamentary rules at the start of the mandate, depending on the election results.
“We are not the first precedent compared to the general rule of 20% and 12 representatives,” he notes.
Currently, each of the political parties is analyzing the polling results. “Then we will start working towards a consensus to find an acceptable solution. […]. We appeal to the Government and the Liberal Party to responsibly recognize the popular vote.
During negotiations, the PQ will maintain that third-party accreditation is essential for the “smooth running” of parliamentary work. Its representatives will be asked to weigh in on question periods and parliamentary committees in the presence of 14 independent representatives.
“This has really compromised the functioning of our National Assembly, and I think all parties are well aware of that,” he warned.
They will argue that if the PQ and QS are not recognized when they represent almost 30% of the people who voted in the last election, it will be a “rejection of democracy”.
The rules of the National Assembly provide that a minimum of 12 representatives or 20% of the popular vote is required to enjoy a parliamentary committee position, allowing parties to have an adequate operating budget and more time to speak in the bedroom. .
Over the years, negotiations have taken place to provide these benefits to the parties, even if the conditions provided for by the regulations have not been fulfilled. This type of accommodation requires the agreement of all political parties.
For now, all parties are in favor of recognizing the PQ and QS, except the Liberals, who are first asking François Legault to commit to reforming the voting system.
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