[NSG Senate] Senate Chamber: Do We Have Work?

[Ainin]

John wonders who came up with such a strange rule while eating a sloppy joe dripping with ketchup.

[Hindia Belanda]

Adonis yawns and takes a quick nap

[Arkolon]

OOC: Something should have happened by now.

[Tumbra]

"Order, order. This House shall now come to order." Richard said while eating a replacement bowl of oats.

"Before this House begins debate on several bills, the House shall begin with debate on the selection of a President for the Republic of Elizia under the provisional Government Establishment Act, who I shall remind members of this House, must be a member of this House. This debate shall last for the next forty-eight hours."

"Bills which have a minimum of five sponsors can be submitted to me, with all sponsors clearly highlighted where they will be debated."

[Arkolon]

"I nominate Siva Jeyaretnam (Electrum)."

[Coconut Isle]

"I nominate Siva Jeyaretnam (Electrum)."

I consent to being nominated.

[Skappola]

Senator Rudao stands up. "I believe this bill should protect the financial solvency and independence of Elizia from the imperialistic machinations of the western financial institution known as the IMF."

Financial Sovereignty Act
Author: Yohani Rapongan (Path to Harmony)
Sponsors: Yunus Moghadam (PtH), Greanihte (NWP), Emilia Larsen (NWP), Linanto Aiguo (LibDems), B Traven (Libdems)

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An act to ensure the financial sovereignty of Elizia.

BBE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Head of the State, by and with the counsel of the Government, and the authority of the Federal Parliament by virtue of the powers placed upon it by the Law, as follows:

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§1 – Definitions:
IMF - the International Monetary Fund.

§2 – The IMF
In protest of the unreasonable interest rates levied upon Elizia and the unequal representation in international financial votes, Elizia hereby withdraws from the IMF and all associated agencies.

1. All debt owed to the IMF and foreign nations through the IMF by Elizia is hereby declared null and void.
2. Any attempts to forcefully collect upon the aforementioned debt will be considered encroachment upon the Elizia's financial sovereignty, and dealt with at the behest of Elizia's parliament.

§3 – Non-IMF Debts

1. Government debt unrelated to the IMF shall still be repaid on time and in full.

§4 – Multilateral Development Banks
In replacement of the imperialistic IMF, Elizia hereby requests membership in the following organizations.

1. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Islamic Development Bank

[The Sarian]

I nominate my honourable friend, John Chiu.

[Tumbra]

"As the Provisional Government Establishment Act did not make any provisions for the election of a President, I shall set them down below."

"There shall be two rounds of voting. The first round will see all candidates on the ballot, while the second round will have the top two candidates from the first round go onto the ballot."

"As of now, two candidates are on the ballot - the Hon. Siva Jeyaratnam and the Hon. John Chiu. Voting will commence when debate ends."

[Maklohi Vai]

"I nominate the Hon. Kevin Katdare (Collatis).

Now, Mister Speaker, as I read it, the PGEA makes no allowance for debates between the candidates before voting. This is a gross neglect of a valuable democratic process. Will we be permitted to set up a debate for the candidates after the 48 hours period is closed?"

OOC: More to the point, Presidential campaigns, nominations, and voting have always been conducted outside of the Chamber, in separate threads, and I see no reason why this one should occur in the Chamber. If it can be worked out ICly, I would like for this process to move out of the chamber so that there can simultaneously be activity on the presidential election and on chamber bills. Tumbra, I don't know why this was raised in the chamber in the first place - could you please explain? This is also the admins fault for not setting up the election after the passage of the bill - our apologies. Understandably we were occupied with other, more pressing matters.

[Tumbra]

"I nominate the Hon. Kevin Katdare (Collatis).

Now, Mister Speaker, as I read it, the PGEA makes no allowance for debates between the candidates before voting. This is a gross neglect of a valuable democratic process. Will we be permitted to set up a debate for the candidates after the 48 hours period is closed?"

OOC: More to the point, Presidential campaigns, nominations, and voting have always been conducted outside of the Chamber, in separate threads, and I see no reason why this one should occur in the Chamber. If it can be worked out ICly, I would like for this process to move out of the chamber so that there can simultaneously be activity on the presidential election and on chamber bills. Tumbra, I don't know why this was raised in the chamber in the first place - could you please explain? This is also the admins fault for not setting up the election after the passage of the bill - our apologies. Understandably we were occupied with other, more pressing matters.

OOC: Ainin suggested I do here, and it sounded reasonable. PGEA states that members of Parliament are the ones that elect the President, so I also thought it was only fair that the vote be conducted in the place where most parliamentary business is conducted. Furthermore, as this President is a provisional position and will be in power for two weeks maximum with next to no power, I figured that it would be fair to do it here instead.

"Yes, it will be possible for such a debate to be conducted. Each candidate will have a chance to make a final statement following the 48 hours of debate."

[Ainin]

OOC: Weren't presidential elections held in standalone threads because they were meant to simulate a popular vote? The PGEA clearly states that the President is elected by Parliament. And in any case, the president has no powers and is overseeing a provisional government that'll last 2 weeks. I don't see why it should be in a separate thread.

[Maklohi Vai]

OOC: Weren't presidential elections held in standalone threads because they were meant to simulate a popular vote? The PGEA clearly states that the President is elected by Parliament. And in any case, the president has no powers and is overseeing a provisional government that'll last 2 weeks. I don't see why it should be in a separate thread.

OOC: Fair points from both of you, thanks much. We'll keep it here.

"I nominate the Hon. Kevin Katdare (Collatis).

Now, Mister Speaker, as I read it, the PGEA makes no allowance for debates between the candidates before voting. This is a gross neglect of a valuable democratic process. Will we be permitted to set up a debate for the candidates after the 48 hours period is closed?"

OOC: More to the point, Presidential campaigns, nominations, and voting have always been conducted outside of the Chamber, in separate threads, and I see no reason why this one should occur in the Chamber. If it can be worked out ICly, I would like for this process to move out of the chamber so that there can simultaneously be activity on the presidential election and on chamber bills. Tumbra, I don't know why this was raised in the chamber in the first place - could you please explain? This is also the admins fault for not setting up the election after the passage of the bill - our apologies. Understandably we were occupied with other, more pressing matters.

OOC: Ainin suggested I do here, and it sounded reasonable. PGEA states that members of Parliament are the ones that elect the President, so I also thought it was only fair that the vote be conducted in the place where most parliamentary business is conducted. Furthermore, as this President is a provisional position and will be in power for two weeks maximum with next to no power, I figured that it would be fair to do it here instead.

"Yes, it will be possible for such a debate to be conducted. Each candidate will have a chance to make a final statement following the 48 hours of debate."

"Excellent, thank you Mister Speaker."

[MERIZoC]

Mr Speaker I find this form of confirmation of a president to be absolutely ludicrous! Votes such as this cannot be multi-way races—each candidate must stand individually, in the order they were presented, to parliament so that we can determine if a majority of the house has confidence in them. Please Mr speaker, I humbly request that you reconsider the process for this, as the current one is highly undemocratic.

[Collatis]

"I nominate the Hon. Kevin Katdare (Collatis).

"I wholeheartedly accept the nomination."

[Tumbra]

Mr Speaker I find this form of confirmation of a president to be absolutely ludicrous! Votes such as this cannot be multi-way races—each candidate must stand individually, in the order they were presented, to parliament so that we can determine if a majority of the house has confidence in them. Please Mr speaker, I humbly request that you reconsider the process for this, as the current one is highly undemocratic.

"I accept the Hon. Member's concerns, and will amend the system accordingly. Understandably in the past few hours there has been a fair bit of confusion within this House about the proceedure I have chosen, or will choose to select the President."

"The forty-eight hours of debate can be used to make nominations and debate about them. A nomination requires one submitter and for the nominee to give his or her explicit approval to be nominated."

"Following the forty-eight hours of debate, each candidate will be able to make a final speech, before their names are presented one by one before the members of the Senate, in order of the largest voting bloc. Twenty-four hours will be allocated for voting on each candidate, with the Hon. Members in this chamber being able to vote either AYE or NAY to each candidate."

"Once a candidate receives fifty percent of the votes plus one, they will immediately become President."

"The current order of the votes are as such:

1. Siva Jeyaratnam of the Elizia First Party and the National Coalition
2. Kevin Katdare of the Liberal Democrats
3. John Chiu of the Chinese Interests Party."

"In the case of all the candidates are not able to get the requisite fifty percent of the votes plus one, there will be a re-vote, allowing for additional candidates to stand."

"This will be final, and will be referred to for the election."

[The Sarian]

Mr Speaker I find this form of confirmation of a president to be absolutely ludicrous! Votes such as this cannot be multi-way races—each candidate must stand individually, in the order they were presented, to parliament so that we can determine if a majority of the house has confidence in them. Please Mr speaker, I humbly request that you reconsider the process for this, as the current one is highly undemocratic.

"Mr Speaker, the honourable member seems at odds with the notion of a temporary president. We are not electing someone to be our Head of State for the next five years, we are not electing someone to spearhead our government into the future, we are electing a temporary president.

The system the honourable member proposes is one that acts as a catalyst for division and deadlock. Mr Speaker, how many votes will we have to go through, how much time will we have to spend. Time, I hasten to add, for a Temporary President.

Mr Speaker, I also find it ironic that the honourable member describes the current system as undemocratic. It couldn't be further from the truth - not only is it the election system of a large proportion of the world, but it also allows us to elect a consensus choice. What the honourable member proposes is less a Path to Harmony, and more a path of division and partisanship.

I urge you, Mr Speaker, stand strong on the electoral system you chose and ignore the honourable member's call for deadlock and division."

[Ainin]

"Hear, hear."

"Also, I accept the nomination I guess."

[Victoriala]

Suryudhono looks with a slight disappointment to his partymate. Hopefully some agendas that concern his concerns shall come soon after.

[Argentarino]

"Hear, hear," Sayid says as he sips from his chai.

[Skappola]

"Hear, hear," Sayid says as he sips from his chai.

Rudao stares angrily at Sayid's tea.

[West Verrica]

post removed.

[Malgrave]

I nominate Tian Zhao (Ikania) for the Presidency.

[Froiiland]

"I nominate Tian Zhao (Ikania)." Tasyzki grinned reclining in his chair setting his feet on the desk.

[The Grene Knyght]

"I second the nominations of my comrades - Tian Zhao for president."