November 2020 Speaker of the National Congress election
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Needed to Win: Majority of the votes cast 16 votes cast, 9 needed for a majority | |||||||||||||
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The November 2020 Speaker of the National Congress election was held on November 18–19, 2020, on the opening day of the 11th Georgienstinian Congress, three days after the November 2020 elections for the National Congress. This was the 9th, Speaker of the House of Representatives election since the office was created in 2018.
The incumbent Speaker, Owen O'Lachtna, was elected to a second term, defeating his Georgienstine First opponent, Guy Watts following a coin toss. In the event of a tie, the vice-president must cast a tiebreaking vote, however, due to the vice-president's absence, a coin toss was held instead.
Process and conventions
The Speaker of the National Congress is the presiding officer of the National Congress. The National Congress elects its speaker at the beginning of a new Congress (i.e. biennially, after a general election) or when a speaker dies, resigns or is removed from the position intra-term. Since 2018, the National Congress has elected speakers by recorded vote. Traditionally, each party or caucus selects a candidate for the speakership from among its senior leaders prior to the recorded vote. Congresspeople are not restricted to voting for the candidate nominated by their party, but generally do.
To be elected speaker a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes cast, as opposed to an absolute majority of the full membership of the National Congress presently 8 votes, in a National Congress of 16. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes cast, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and another round is held. This process is repeated until a candidate gets a majority of votes.
Movement for Socialism
Nominee
- Rep. Owen O'Lachtna, incumbent Speaker of the National Congress, former governor of Nassau, and current congressperson
Results
On November 17, 2020, Wright was nominated without opposition.
Georgienstine First
Nominee
- Rep. Guy Watts, current congressperson
Lost nomination
- Rep. Isaiah David, current congressperson, governor of Nassau
Results
The Georgienstine First caucus vote was held on November 14, 2020, electing Watts as the party's nominee for speaker.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Watts | 5 | 62.5% | |
| Isaiah David | 3 | 37.5% |
Election of Speaker
The election for speaker took place on November 18–19, 2020, at the start of the 11th Congress. Unexpectedly, Owen O'Lachtna received support from the far-right Holy Party, which led to a tie in votes. A coin toss was organized to decide the next speaker as the vice-president was absent. O'Lachtna won the coin toss and was therefore re-elected as speaker. Georgienstine First congresspeople Raphaël Olivier and Isaiah David criticized the use of a coin toss to decide the victor and Alexandre Olivier jokingly alleged that the coin toss was "rigged".
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movement for Socialism | Owen O'Lachtna | 8 | 50.0% | |
| Georgienstine First | Guy Watts | 8 | 50.0% |
Notes
- ↑ Won following a tiebreaking coin toss.