SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party on Wednesday (Jan 21) said that it will not be nominating another party member to the post of Leader of the Opposition.
It said in a statement that it has responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong regarding the vacancy of the office of the Leader of the Opposition. In its letter to Mr Wong, WP said it was “unable to accept” his invitation to do so.
“The establishment of the office of the Leader of the Opposition was a step forward in our political development. The recognition of a Leader of the Opposition in Parliament was introduced by the PAP government in 2020, ostensibly as a result of a recognition of the strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics,” it said in a separate statement on its website and social media pages.
“The LO appointment is conventionally extended to the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament or it is decided by the opposition party in question. To this end, it is important to reiterate that the LO appointment in Parliament arose out of the political success of the opposition at the ballot box," it added.
“It is the people’s vote that explains the presence of opposition MPs in Parliament. In other Westminster systems, the title of the Leader of the Opposition is established by law and is not the prerogative or choice of the Government of the day or the Prime Minister. This approach expresses the authority and sanctity of the people’s vote."
The Workers’ Party said it is of the view that the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament is the leader of the opposition.
"As such, the Workers’ Party has conveyed to the prime minister that we will not be nominating another Workers’ Party Member of Parliament to the LO post," the party said.
"We continue to focus on our primary duty, to work for Singaporeans and provide a rational, responsible, and respectable check on the government.”
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It said in a statement that it has responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong regarding the vacancy of the office of the Leader of the Opposition. In its letter to Mr Wong, WP said it was “unable to accept” his invitation to do so.
“The establishment of the office of the Leader of the Opposition was a step forward in our political development. The recognition of a Leader of the Opposition in Parliament was introduced by the PAP government in 2020, ostensibly as a result of a recognition of the strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics,” it said in a separate statement on its website and social media pages.
“The LO appointment is conventionally extended to the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament or it is decided by the opposition party in question. To this end, it is important to reiterate that the LO appointment in Parliament arose out of the political success of the opposition at the ballot box," it added.
“It is the people’s vote that explains the presence of opposition MPs in Parliament. In other Westminster systems, the title of the Leader of the Opposition is established by law and is not the prerogative or choice of the Government of the day or the Prime Minister. This approach expresses the authority and sanctity of the people’s vote."
The Workers’ Party said it is of the view that the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament is the leader of the opposition.
"As such, the Workers’ Party has conveyed to the prime minister that we will not be nominating another Workers’ Party Member of Parliament to the LO post," the party said.
"We continue to focus on our primary duty, to work for Singaporeans and provide a rational, responsible, and respectable check on the government.”
Continue reading...