House of Deputies (Lotriori)
| Camera Deputatilor | |
|---|---|
| 22nd Lotriori Parliament | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 9 June 1989 |
| Leadership | |
Alexandrescu Iacob Since 1 June 2018 | |
| Structure | |
 | |
House of Deputies political groups | HM Government Prime Minister: 1 seat
HM Most Loyal Opposition Conservative Party: 68 seats Spanish Popular Party: 68 seats
Other groups Democracy and Solidarity: 43 seats Union of People: 23 seats Independent: 11 seats |
The House of Deputies (domestically known as the Deputies) is the lower house and de facto primary chamber of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lotriori. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Cornencer.
The Commons is an elected body consisting of 213 members. Deputies are elected to represent cities by the first-past-the-post system and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved.
Role
Relationship with Her Majesty's Government
Although the House of Commons does not formally elect the prime minister, by convention and in practice, the prime minister is answerable to the House, and therefore must maintain its support. In this way, the position of the parties in the House is of overriding importance. Thus, whenever the office of prime minister falls vacant, the monarch appoints the person who has the support of the house, or who is most likely to command the support of the house—normally the leader of the largest party in the house—while the leader of the second-largest party becomes the leader of the Opposition.
The Commons may indicate its lack of support for the government by rejecting a motion of confidence or by passing a motion of no confidence. Confidence and no confidence motions are phrased explicitly: for instance, "That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty's Government."
The annual Budget is still considered a matter of confidence. When a Government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons, the prime minister is obliged either to resign, making way for another MP who can command confidence, or to request the monarch to dissolve Parliament, thereby precipitating a general election.
Scrutiny of the government
The House of Commons formally scrutinises the Government through its Committees and Prime Minister's Questions, when members ask questions of the prime minister; the house gives other opportunities to question other cabinet ministers. Prime Minister's Questions occur weekly, normally for half an hour each Monday. Questions must relate to the responding minister's official government activities, not to his or her activities as a party leader or as a private Member of Parliament. Customarily, members of the Government party/coalition and members of the Opposition alternate when asking questions. Members may also make inquiries in writing.
Legislative functions
Bills may be introduced in either house, though bills of importance generally originate in the House of Deputies. The supremacy of the Deputies in legislative matters is assured by the Parliament Acts, under which certain types of bills may be presented to the Queen for Royal Assent without the consent of the House of Lords. The Lords may not delay a money bill for more than one month. Moreover, the Lords may not delay most other public bills for more than two parliamentary sessions, or one calendar year. These provisions, however, only apply to public bills that originate in the House of Deputies. Moreover, a bill that seeks to extend a parliamentary term beyond five years requires the consent of the House of Lords.
Scandals within parliament
Ist Hung Parliament
The first hung parliament of the Kingdom of Lotriori presented itself with many problems. The first one has been the appointment of an independent Prime Minister. Ioanov Sara has served a cabinet composed mainly of Conservatives, but also some SPP members. This led to controvercies and gouverning problems.
Timeline of the Ioanov Cabinet
1. May 6, 2021 - Assumption of Office:
- The Ioanov Sara government takes over the country, within a Hung Parliament.
2. June 2021 - Infrastructure Modernization Law:
- The government proposes an ambitious law for infrastructure modernization but faces strong opposition, which deems the allocated budget unrealistic.
3. October 2021 - Energy Controversies:
- A scandal erupts around the Minister of Energy, accused of favoritism in contract assignments. The opposition calls for the minister's resignation, but the government supports him, causing tensions in Parliament.
4. February 2022 - Opposition to Educational Reforms:
- The government's proposed Education Law brings significant changes to the system, drawing strong criticism from the opposition and educational organizations.
5. July 2022 - Tax Law and Protests:
- The government proposes a radical tax reform, sparking massive protests. Opposition lawmakers organize a filibuster to prevent the law's adoption.
6. October 2022 - Scandal in the Ministry of Health:
- A Health Minister is embroiled in a corruption scandal. The opposition demands his resignation and initiates a parliamentary inquiry.
7. January 2023 - Budget Adopted with Difficulty:
- The government sets ambitious goals for the 2023 budget but faces challenges in garnering necessary support in Parliament. The opposition accuses excessive spending and a lack of transparency.
8. April 2023 - International Trade Agreements:
- The government initiates discussions for new international trade agreements. The opposition criticizes the negotiations, claiming they are not favorable enough for the country.
9. July 2023 - Tensions in the Coalition:
- Tensions arise within the governing coalition, and a key parliamentarian withdraws, weakening the government's position in Parliament.
10. October 2023 - Controversies Regarding National Security:
- A scandal erupts around national security measures proposed by the government. The opposition accuses the executive of violating civil rights.
11. December 2023 - Opposition Strengthens Position:
- The government faces a more united and stronger opposition in Parliament, and attempts to pass new laws encounter significant obstacles.
The Ioanov government navigates through a mandate filled with challenges and controversies, and the outcome of the next elections remains uncertain. A tense political atmosphere influences decisions and governance effectiveness, with the opposition consistently pressuring for change.