mandatory opposition

While the discussions on future relationships in the NI Assembly have focused on the DUP's desire for a voluntary coalition an alternative view would be to consider that such a coalition would give rise to a mandatory opposition.

Those parties with an entitlement to hold Executive office due to the number of elected members returned at election and excluded by other parties will represent a mandatory opposition.

So having had that mandatory role decided by others what will be the remit and responsibility for those parties. The concept of a loyal opposition exists in many democratic systems and the people of Northern Ireland are entitled to hear from the proponents of mandatory opposition what such a system should entail.

Unless of course the proponents of a voluntary coalition don't really want an opposition, loyal or otherwise.
Posted by unionist voter at 15:19 0 comments
Labels: DUP, voluntary opposition
Friday, 11 March 2011