Amendment to the European Constitution (Speaker and Deputy Speakers) 2021
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I have to applaud this proposal from the Reitzmic Councillor, Ms. Yahontov, as it is a great base to start amending this part of the Constitution that, as proved in the last weeks and months, needed some reform in order to guarantee the order and correct functioning of the European Council. But, even if it is a great base for the amendment, I do consider some of them are missing; but that doesn't change the fact that this proposal is heading towards the good way.
As we have seen in the last months, there has been severe delays in some "Speaker-only" procedures, especially with the approval of new Eurogroups like the European League of Sovereign States for example. I would have loved to approve their Eurogroup as soon as possible, yet the Constitution doesn't allow me to do it or to fulfill any of the "Speaker-only" functions in case of his absence. That's why we need a mechanism by which the Deputy Speaker elected with the highest number of votes could do those functions. I would also like to make a clear differentation between the 2 Deputy Speakers, as we cannot or should not pretend to give the same power to someone that had way less votes than the other candidate for the Deputy Speakership. The election has to be democratic, so have the results and their application within the European law.
Finally, I think the proposed Section IV would turn the Council into a sort of battleground instead than into a place that can work correctly, and so I will support Cllr. Benfield's amendments, as his first amendment contains a better wording than yours under my point of view, Cllr. Yahontov.
I'm looking forward to hear Councillors' comments on my amendments, as well as their thoughts on this bill, as I hope they cooperate in order to keep the Council going instead of not caring about its functioning and its procedures. Thank you.
Amendment I
Article II, Section IV, Clause I shall be amended as follows:
III. The Speaker shall act as a mediator if a Councillor lodges an official complaint against another Councillor or against the Deputy Speakers. The process for hearing complaints and coming to a decision is up to the discretion of the Speaker. Mediation and Eurogroups approval responsibilities can
notbe delegated to the Deputy Speaker if the Speaker is considered to be absent.Amendment II
Article II, Section V, Clause I shall be amended as follows:
I. The
twoDeputy Speaker and the Vice-Deputy Speakersis aare Councillors responsible for assisting the Speaker on or presiding over sessions of the European Council and moderating the legislative process in the absence of the Speaker. Both Deputy Speakers shall work together in presiding over the legislative process.Amendment III
Article II, Section V, Clause I bis shall be added with the following words:
I bis. The Vice-Deputy Speaker shall be the Councillor elected with a fewer number of votes than the other elected Councillor for the Deputy Speakership of the European Council. The Vice-Deputy Speaker won't receive delegation of the moderation or Eurogroups approval responsabilities if the Speaker is considered to be absent.
Amendment IV
Article II, Section V, Clause II shall be amended as follows:
II.
In the absence of the SpeakerShould the Speaker be incapable to conduct his/her responsibilites, the Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker may call the opening and closing of debating and voting phases in the European Council, set what constitutes a valid vote in accordance with the Constitution, and count the votes when a voting phase has ended. The Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker may extend Council proceedings if deemed suitable, however, no phase of the legislative process may be shortened and this power cannot be delegated. The Deputy Speaker and the Vice-Deputy SpeakerShould both Deputy Speakersbe incapable to conduct their responsiblities, they may delegate these responsibilities to any Councillor, or defer to the presenter of a proposal if they and the Speaker are both absent.Amendment V
Section III. All parts of the constitution shall have the phrase Vice-Deputy Speaker be
pluralized.added where needed.Amendment VI
Article II, Section IV, Clause II shall be amended as follows:
II. The Speaker may call the opening and closing of debating and voting phases in the European Council, set what constitutes a valid vote in accordance with the Constitution, and count the votes when a voting phase has ended. The Speaker may extend Council proceedings if deemed suitable, however, no phase of the legislative process may be shortened and this power
cannot be delegatedmay only be delegated to the Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker should the Speaker be incapable to do so.Amendment VII
Article II, Section V, Clause III shall be amended as follows:
III. The Deputy Speaker shall act as a mediator if a Councillor lodges an official complaint against another Councillor or against the Speaker. The process for hearing complaints and coming to a decision is up to the discretion of the Deputy Speaker. Mediation responsibilities cannot be delegated to the Vice-Deputy Speaker unless the Deputy Speaker is considered to be absent.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain -
Debate is now over. It is time to vote on amendments. There are NINE amendments, which have been proposed by Councillor Benfield and myself, Councillor Tusk. The amendments are thus:
Amendment I - Proposed by Cllr. Benfield
Section I. Article II, Section V, Clause I shall be amended as follows:
I. ThetwoDeputy Speakersis aare Councillors reponsible for assisting the Speaker on presiding over sessions of the European Council and moderating the legislative process in the absence of the Speaker.Both Deputy SpeakersThere shall be a maximum of two Deputy Speakers, who shall work together in presiding over the legislative process.Amendment II - Proposed by Cllr. Benfield
Section IV. Article II, Section IV, Clause V
V. The Speaker may dismiss a Deputy Speaker for any reason he/she deems appropriate. The dismissal may be overturned by a simple majority vote in the European Council. Should the Deputy Speaker be dismissed, a by-election shall immediately commence.Amendment III - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section IV, Clause I shall be amended as follows:
III. The Speaker shall act as a mediator if a Councillor lodges an official complaint against another Councillor or against the Deputy Speakers. The process for hearing complaints and coming to a decision is up to the discretion of the Speaker. Mediation and Eurogroups approval responsibilities can
notbe delegated to the Deputy Speaker if the Speaker is considered to be absent.Amendment IV - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section V, Clause I shall be amended as follows:
I. The
twoDeputy Speaker and the Vice-Deputy Speakersis aare Councillors responsible for assisting the Speaker on or presiding over sessions of the European Council and moderating the legislative process in the absence of the Speaker. Both Deputy Speakers shall work together in presiding over the legislative process.Amendment V - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section V, Clause I bis shall be added with the following words:
I bis. The Vice-Deputy Speaker shall be the Councillor elected with a fewer number of votes than the other elected Councillor for the Deputy Speakership of the European Council. The Vice-Deputy Speaker won't receive delegation of the moderation or Eurogroups approval responsabilities if the Speaker is considered to be absent.
Amendment VI - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section V, Clause II shall be amended as follows:
II.
In the absence of the SpeakerShould the Speaker be incapable to conduct his/her responsibilites, the Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker may call the opening and closing of debating and voting phases in the European Council, set what constitutes a valid vote in accordance with the Constitution, and count the votes when a voting phase has ended. The Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker may extend Council proceedings if deemed suitable, however, no phase of the legislative process may be shortened and this power cannot be delegated. The Deputy Speaker and the Vice-Deputy SpeakerShould both Deputy Speakersbe incapable to conduct their responsiblities, they may delegate these responsibilities to any Councillor, or defer to the presenter of a proposal if they and the Speaker are both absent.Amendment VII - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Section III. All parts of the constitution shall have the phrase Vice-Deputy Speaker be
pluralized.added where needed.Amendment VIII - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section IV, Clause II shall be amended as follows:
II. The Speaker may call the opening and closing of debating and voting phases in the European Council, set what constitutes a valid vote in accordance with the Constitution, and count the votes when a voting phase has ended. The Speaker may extend Council proceedings if deemed suitable, however, no phase of the legislative process may be shortened and this power
cannot be delegatedmay only be delegated to the Deputy Speakersand the Vice-Deputy Speaker should the Speaker be incapable to do so.Amendment IX - Proposed by Cllr. Tusk
Article II, Section V, Clause III shall be amended as follows:
III. The Deputy Speaker shall act as a mediator if a Councillor lodges an official complaint against another Councillor or against the Speaker. The process for hearing complaints and coming to a decision is up to the discretion of the Deputy Speaker. Mediation responsibilities cannot be delegated to the Vice-Deputy Speaker unless the Deputy Speaker is considered to be absent.
Voting on amendments will commence NOW and will last until 15:12 GMT on October 3rd, 2021.
I vote FOR all amendments.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain -
I vote FOR all amendments.
Emma Granger,
Councillor for Montenbourg -
I vote FOR Amendments I, II, III, and IV, and AGAINST all other amendments.
Iras Tilkanas
Councillor for the Republic of Istkalen -
The Empire of Inimicus votes FOR Amendments I,II, and III, and AGAINST all other Amendments.
Cllr Nicholas Benfield
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For the Archrepublic of Vayinaod, I vote AGAINST all amendments.
Carita Falk
Archrepublic of Vayinaod -
I vote FOR all amendments.
Paul-Gabrielle Muzhare
EU-Councillor for the Republic of Nofoaga -
I, Councillor Duchess Penelope "Poppy" Carlton-Romanov the Third of Her Name, Attorney at Law, vote FOR all amendments.
Councillor Duchess Penelope "Poppy" Carlton-Romanov the Third of Her Name Attorney at Law
Nicoleizian Councillor -
Voting on amendments has concluded. With 6 votes FOR and 1 vote AGAINST, Amendment I has PASSED. With 6 votes FOR and 1 vote AGAINST, Amendment II has PASSED. With 6 votes FOR and 1 vote AGAINST, Amendment III has PASSED. With 5 votes FOR and 2 votes AGAINST, Amendment IV has PASSED. With 4 votes FOR and 3 votes AGAINST, Amendment V has PASSED. With 4 votes FOR and 3 AGAINST, Amendment VI has PASSED. With 4 votes FOR and 3 votes AGAINST, Amendment VII has PASSED. With 4 votes FOR and 3 votes AGAINST, Amendment VIII has PASSED. With 4 votes FOR and 3 votes AGAINST, Amendment IX has PASSED.
The bill has been updated to reflect the passed amendments.
Final voting begins NOW and will last until 18:53 GMT on October 6th, 2021.
On behalf of the Kingdom of Spain, I vote FOR this amendment to the European Constitution.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain -
On behalf of the Republic of Istkalen, I vote AGAINST this amendment. The terminology added by the amendments is too vague and would enable significant abuse on the part of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker in regards to its implementation.
Iras Tilkanas
Councillor for the Republic of Istkalen -
On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote AGAINST this constitutional amendment.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
On behalf of the Kingdom of Montenbourg, I vote FOR this amendment to the European Constitution.
Emma Granger
Councillor for Montenbourg -
On behalf of the Archrepublic of Vayinaod, I vote AGAINST this amendment.
Carita Falk
Archrepublic of Vayinaod -
I am very frustrated at how those 9 amendments made this very simple amendment to the constitution more complex. I therefore vote AGAINST this amendment. This attitude of submitting amendments that make a council motion worse than it was originally written must be stopped and not tolerated.
Yuridiana Yahontov
Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag -
The Imperial Government agrees with Cllr Yahontov. This proposal had real promise, however Cllr Tusk's Amendments make the bill completely uninterpretable and vague, and we are therefore forced to vote AGAINST this Amendment. We would encourage Cllr Yahontov and others to file a similar Amendment in the future.
Cllr Nicholas Benfield
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With current amendments I must regrettably vote AGAINST this ammendment
James Mizrachi-Roscoe, Councillour for United Duchies -
With 2 votes FOR and 6 votes AGAINST, this amendment to the European Constitution has been REJECTED.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain
The Kingdom of Spain
