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To the Honorable Members of This House:

It is apparent to me that this is not the position that I want to take on. I wish to help the people of my constituency more and the only way to do that is to resign as speaker. I will preside over the election of the next speaker when we reconvene tomorrow. I'm sorry for doing this but I just can't go any further and leave my people without a voice. An important voice.

-Mina Mooren

Merni wrote:Zhang Xiaoqing leaves and goes to a nearby square, where the anti-PRC protest on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre will be happening.

Merni wrote:"Madam Speaker, this makes no sense; without a sitting Speaker we cannot even get an agenda for the week, much less debate in an orderly fashion." Xiaoqing looks accusingly at the RPP bench.

Inhorto wrote:

Merni wrote:"Madam Speaker, this makes no sense; without a sitting Speaker we cannot even get an agenda for the week, much less debate in an orderly fashion." Xiaoqing looks accusingly at the RPP bench.

"Madam Speaker, I propose that you continue in your position until this week's business is complete."

Democratic Republic of Eiria wrote:

Inhorto wrote:"Madam Speaker, I propose that you continue in your position until this week's business is complete."

"With All due respect, Prime Minister, the speaker may resign when she wishes. I for one wouldn't mind delaying legislation for a day so a new speaker can be elected. You can't force a politician into a seat they no longer wish to possess. Plus, it would only be a couple days to elect a speaker. We have an obligation to our people, true, but would our people mind us taking a few days to replace a speaker?".

Inhorto wrote:

Democratic Republic of Eiria wrote:"With All due respect, Prime Minister, the speaker may resign when she wishes. I for one wouldn't mind delaying legislation for a day so a new speaker can be elected. You can't force a politician into a seat they no longer wish to possess. Plus, it would only be a couple days to elect a speaker. We have an obligation to our people, true, but would our people mind us taking a few days to replace a speaker?".

"My concern, Madam Speaker, is that this abrupt shift in the agenda of this House has left this body in great disarray. There is important legislation to be considered, legislation that will touch upon the lives of millions of Bandurians. It is unfortunate for me to say it, Madam Speaker, but the resignation has hampered this body's ability to pass legislation and is thus most unwise. This is why I propose that the Speaker should forestall the election until the end of the week so that this House can consider and vote upon the aforesaid legislation. Otherwise we are sitting here as lame ducks with no nominations and nothing getting done. If the Speaker should feel that she has worn herself out of her office, then it would be this government's advice to appoint a deputy speaker and allow them to carry out the rest of term."

"I should add that the selection of a deputy speaker is among the duties of the speaker provided in the GEA. A duty that has not yet been fulfilled."

Merni wrote:

Inhorto wrote:"My concern, Madam Speaker, is that this abrupt shift in the agenda of this House has left this body in great disarray. There is important legislation to be considered, legislation that will touch upon the lives of millions of Bandurians. It is unfortunate for me to say it, Madam Speaker, but the resignation has hampered this body's ability to pass legislation and is thus most unwise. This is why I propose that the Speaker should forestall the election until the end of the week so that this House can consider and vote upon the aforesaid legislation. Otherwise we are sitting here as lame ducks with no nominations and nothing getting done. If the Speaker should feel that she has worn herself out of her office, then it would be this government's advice to appoint a deputy speaker and allow them to carry out the rest of term."

"I should add that the selection of a deputy speaker is among the duties of the speaker provided in the GEA. A duty that has not yet been fulfilled."

"Madam Speaker, to my knowledge, there is no further agenda scheduled for this week. The hon. Mr Wu also did not address you in his speech."

Inhorto wrote:

Merni wrote:"Madam Speaker, to my knowledge, there is no further agenda scheduled for this week. The hon. Mr Wu also did not address you in his speech."

"Madam Speaker, I would invite my friend the Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition to review the present docket in the Speaker's office. I will note the Narcotic Control Act, Bandurian Small Businesses Act, and the Broadcasting Reform Act, all government bills, are ready for review by this Chamber. Why they have not been scheduled is beyond me."

"I would also like to note, Madam Speaker, the conspicuous lack of opposition bills."

Merni wrote:

Inhorto wrote:"Madam Speaker, I would invite my friend the Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition to review the present docket in the Speaker's office. I will note the Narcotic Control Act, Bandurian Small Businesses Act, and the Broadcasting Reform Act, all government bills, are ready for review by this Chamber. Why they have not been scheduled is beyond me."

"I would also like to note, Madam Speaker, the conspicuous lack of opposition bills."

"I have done so, Madam Speaker, and I cannot see any further bills scheduled. As for opposition bills, I would like to bring to the Prime Minister's attention the Penghuni Culture Preservation Act, which has been supported by members across the chamber, including himself. More bills will be drafted and proposed as we move forward."

Inhorto wrote:

Merni wrote:"I have done so, Madam Speaker, and I cannot see any further bills scheduled. As for opposition bills, I would like to bring to the Prime Minister's attention the Penghuni Culture Preservation Act, which has been supported by members across the chamber, including himself. More bills will be drafted and proposed as we move forward."

"Madam Speaker, I believe the Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition and I are referring to two different things. The Leader of the Opposition is correct in her assertion that there is no schedule for the upcoming week. Of course, this is because you, Madam Speaker, I have not provided the House with such a schedule. I, however, am referring to the four government bills and one opposition bill that have been submitted to the Speaker's office, but have yet to be scheduled. Perhaps the House should review that legislation, Madam Speaker."

Merni wrote:

Inhorto wrote:"Madam Speaker, I believe the Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition and I are referring to two different things. The Leader of the Opposition is correct in her assertion that there is no schedule for the upcoming week. Of course, this is because you, Madam Speaker, I have not provided the House with such a schedule. I, however, am referring to the four government bills and one opposition bill that have been submitted to the Speaker's office, but have yet to be scheduled. Perhaps the House should review that legislation, Madam Speaker."

"Madam Speaker, I cannot see why the right hon. Prime Minister persists in this objection. Why, by his argument, a Speaker can never leave their position while there is any bill pending before this house. In my opinion this is a ridiculous idea, for after debating these five bills it is more than likely that some more would be pending. Two days' delay will not cause any grave harm, and in any case the legislation that is currently pending is not so time-sensitive that two days' delay would damage it. We will have to spend these two days electing a new Speaker at some point, and I don't think waiting for a period when there are no pending bills is feasible or fair to you, Madam Speaker."

Inhorto wrote:"Madam Speaker, I would encourage the Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition to hearken more closely to what I am saying. I do not object to your vacating your office out of principle, Madam Speaker. I am dismayed, however, that this time has been apportioned for the purpose of electing a new Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are just off the tails of an important Budget vote. This government has a lot to accomplish. There are certainly members of the House, and the Leader of the Opposition will surely be among them, who would like to question this government on its record."

"Madam Speaker, this is why I propose that the current business of this House, mainly the aforementioned Narcotic Control Act, Bandurian Small Businesses Act, the Broadcasting Reform Act, and the Humane Security Act, be considered before the Speaker elections. Once that business is complete, we can busy ourselves with the game of electing a new Speaker. Should the Speaker care not to continue in her role until those bills are passed, she may designate a Deputy Speaker to complete this time. Since the budget vote, this House has neither debated nor passed anything in the past two days. How many more days are needed, Madam Speaker?"

Merni wrote:Zhang Xiaoqing chuckles. "Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister can safely bet that I want to question his government, but not with such urgency as he implies, and certainly not by forcing you to stay in office against your will. I don't see any problem with electing a new Speaker now and then continuing with our business. In any case, this is a matter for you to decide, Madam Speaker, and I don't see the point of further back-and-forth debate between myself and the Prime Minister on this point."

Democratic Republic of Eiria wrote:"Madam Speaker, I apologise for not addressing you in my comment addressed to the Prime Minister. I also would like to nominate myself for the position of speaker. I hope my colleagues in both the Coalition and the Opposition can see that I will serve as a neutral, dutiful speaker, loyal to Democratic Protocol. I will work hard for Banduria, if granted the Speaker's Chair. Thank you".

Democratic Republic of Eiria wrote:"Madam Speaker, I apologise for not addressing you in my comment addressed to the Prime Minister. I also would like to nominate myself for the position of speaker. I hope my colleagues in both the Coalition and the Opposition can see that I will serve as a neutral, dutiful speaker, loyal to Democratic Protocol. I will work hard for Banduria, if granted the Speaker's Chair. Thank you".