Presentation of the Government's Agenda

[Speaker Rejo]

Speaker Rejo shakes hands with the President of the Republic, thanking him as she takes the gavel. After the obligatory photo shoot of taking the gavel and holding it in the air, Speaker Rejo raps the gavel thrice.

ORDER, ORDER!

Now that the election for Speaker has concluded, I now call upon the Prime Minister, Mr. Alfonzo Velez, to deliver the agenda for the Government for this session. Following the Prime Minister's presentation, Members will have no less than 48 hours to debate the agenda, at which point the agenda shall proceed to a vote. This vote shall constitute a vote of confidence in the Government.

The Prime Minister is recognized.

[Alfonso Velez]

Madam Speaker,

The first priority of our Government will be to enshrine the Law of the Graces into the Constitution. After the attacks on the principle that serves as the backbone of our Republic by the far-right, it has become clear that we must take action to defend the right of all peoples to immigrate to our great Republic. Our great Republic is--quite literally--built by immigration, and both of our parties will take action to ensure that no future far-right Government can easily take away this important liberty.

This Government will also take steps to ensure that hard-working citizens get fair pay for their work. We will introduce legislation to set a minimum wage, but will carefully tailor the legislation to give businesses time to adjust to its implementation and gradually increase it over a period of several years. We will also index the minimum wage to inflation to ensure that it remains fair as our economy grows. We will also work to provide tax incentives to corporations to do the right thing and pay their workers more than a minimum wage, and pay them a living wage. Paying workers what they deserve will also stimulate our economy, increasing the wealth of the working class who will re-invest this wealth into our economy creating more jobs and making our businesses stronger. This Government will recognize that corporations and workers are a team--and we will do all that we can to facilitate harmony between them.

This Government will also ensure that small businesses are not overburdened by taxes. Legislation will be introduced to ensure that they are exempt from corporate taxation and have the tools that they need to succeed. A corporate tax rate of 10% will be levied on large corporations for a period of 5 years (which will be set at 15% for oil companies only), and at least 20% of the income collected by this tax will be placed into a program to provide interest-free loans for small businesses to strengthen our economy. This Government recognizes the importance of small businesses in our Republic and will do everything we can to strengthen them.

This Government will also take steps to protect and support the poorest families in our society. Legislation will be introduced to provide for a 100% subsidy of private insurance premiums and deductibles for low-income families. We will also introduce legislation to provide free school lunches to low-income families. A bill will also be introduced to provide tax credits to low-income and working class families to put more of their hard-earned money back into their family's pockets.

This Government will make healthcare a top priority. In addition to providing subsidies to low-income families to obtain health insurance, this Government will create a business-friendly environment to encourage medical companies to invest more in Alduria and develop revolutionary and ground-breaking medical breakthroughs here within our borders. We will also work to ensure that the insurance industry is properly regulated and that competition is promoted and encouraged.

The Government will also invest heavily in infrastructure. Whenever possible, we will explore private-public partnerships and give priority to projects that will help increase commerce and the well-being of all of our cities. We will also welcome private investment into our oil industry, but will cap the involvement of the private sector at 40% of shares for a period of 5 years. 

The Government will take steps to protect our environment by carefully crafting a Cap & Trade bill that will set caps for the emissions of pollutants, and provide a market-based solution to address industries that exceed these caps. This bill will be carefully tailored so that both our economy and environment is strengthened by this bill. 

Finally, this Government will continue in its goal of giving more powers to provinces and localities to have a greater say over how their communities are Governed. This Government will also support the creation of a national football league and will also support youth leagues to help strengthen our nation's culture, keep our nation fit, and to advance sport in our Republic.

Other measures may be laid before you. I look forward to working with all of you over the coming session to help strengthen our Republic. I commend this agenda to Parliament and ask for your support.

[Speaker Rejo]

The Chair thanks the Prime Minister for his remarks. 

The Chair now recognizes any Honourable Member who wishes to address Parliament on the Government's agenda. No less than 48 hours shall be allotted to debate before proceeding to a vote which shall constitute a Motion of Confidence in the Government.

[Speaker Rejo]

All time for debate has now expired.

The question is: Does this Parliament express its confidence in the Prime Minister and his agenda?

Members are reminded that this vote constitutes a vote of confidence in the current Government.

Voting shall last for no less than 48 hours

DIVISION: CLEAR THE LOBBIES!

[Alfonso Velez]

AYE

[Alduria]

• The Euran Destiny Party votes NAY. (21 MPs)
  
• A block of independent MPs led by Henry Poincaré have voted AYE. (10 MPs)
  
• Rest of independents have voted NAY. (7 MPs)
  

[Speaker Rejo]

All time for voting has expired. On this vote, the result is as follows:

AYE: 110

L&D: 100
IND: 10


NAY: 28

EDP: 21
IND: 7

ABSTAIN: 114

DSP: 60
ANA: 54

So the Ayes have it and the Government's agenda is approved. Unlock!