After the PM’s election, the Speaker is required to declare a Leader of the Opposition as early as possible. However, the declaration is not discretionary, rather it follows a set procedure. The Speaker invites members to submit a name for the Leader of the Opposition with their signatures. The member with the greatest numerical support – after the Speaker personally verifies the signatures – is declared Leader of the Opposition. A member who was not among the initial signatories may still be counted if they sign before the count is completed.
Why it matters for the National Assembly proceedings?
The Leader of the Opposition is recognised by the Speaker on the basis of documented member support, not chosen by popular vote or parliamentary vote.
What is in it for citizens?
For citizens, the Leader of the Opposition is one of the most constitutionally significant parliamentary officeholders, entitled to official protocol recognition and specific privileges. The process by which they are declared, and any disputes about numerical support, affects the Assembly’s accountability architecture.
Source: Rule 39, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007
The proceedings of the National Assembly are governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The current rules were passed on 23 February 2007 and have since been amended 21 times, most recently on 22 October 2024.
This post is part of FAFEN’s series on parliamentary literacy. Read more of this series here.
