The National People’s Assembly will this evening convene to debate the Democratic government’s proposed new National Constitution as it goes forward for its Second Reading – the first time legislators will be able to discuss the proposed new document, which began its legislative journey a week ago. It is the second of eight stages that a new Constitution must go through before it can achieve final ratification, and one of three in which it is debated formally by members of the Assembly. After tonight’s discussion, expected to be attended by most AMs, the proposed new Constitution will go forward to a committee phase where it will be subjected to extensive crossbrench scrutiny and be amended where necessary. Tonight’s debate will be the first time the government and opposition go head-to-head on a major political issue in the Assembly, and will be seen as a test of Prime Minister Walters’ strength and suitability to lead the nation in domestic affairs.
Filed under: Politics
