The political formation explains that they have changed their minds in order to introduce a new bill making the oath to the king optional.
The party argues that its MPs will soon complete their swearing-in ceremony to introduce the bill, without specifying the date when they will take the oath to the king.
On Tuesday, the President of the National Assembly decided that if you wanted to take part in parliamentary work, you really had to swear allegiance to the head of state of Canada, King Charles III.
Swearing by the king is pointless and archaic. That has no place in our democracy. The President of the Assembly’s decision is very disappointing, but it is clear and unchallengeable. In order to finally correct this injustice, a bill must be passed, the press release says.
Solidarity declares that they do not trust the two federalist parties [la Coalition avenir Québec et le Parti libéral du Québec, NDLR] to end this practice.
“We will take our responsibility, enter the Blue Room and make sure no one is forced to take that humiliating oath again. »
— A quote from Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-speaker of Québec solidaire
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois is committed to working with the Parti Québécois to resolve the current impasse.
We are ready to make a motion to allow all MPs to sit without the controversial oath […] But you have to sit down, added the parliamentary speaker of Quebec Solidaire.
In addition, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois pointed out that pressure from Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois made it possible to get the CAQ’s commitment to table a bill quickly, and that was good.
“But who will ensure that this law is passed in the Blue Room if there is no separatist there? »
— A quote from Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-speaker of Québec solidaire
A final decision
The decision of the President of the National Assembly is clear and incontestable; there is no appeal mechanism, Mr Nadeau-Dubois reiterated on the ICI Première program Tout un matin.
Starring in this film is out of the question [la possibilité que les députés n’ayant pas prêté serment au roi soient expulsés, NDLR]so we will take our responsibilities, we will hold our noses, he added.
And even if the CAQ intends to present a bill for the voluntary taking of the oath, QS intends to do so at the earliest opportunity.
If you want to change the rules of the game, you can’t trust others; You have to do it yourself, continued the Québec solidaire co-spokesman.
Mr Nadeau-Dubois also believes that it is much easier to put pressure on the government when you have your feet in the Blue Room rather than in the hallway.
Quebec Solidaire parliamentary leader Alexandre Leduc also spoke to his CAQ counterpart Simon Jolin-Barrette on Wednesday to ensure things move faster.
However, there is no guarantee that the Legault government will hasten the passage of an Oath of the King bill, whether from its own ranks or from the opposition benches.