The 11 newly elected Québec Solidaire members are no longer defiant about taking the oath of office before King Charles III.
Spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois says party members will take the oath so that they can enter the legislature and quickly table a bill to make the pledge optional.
Quebec solidaire’s reversal is in reaction to a decision earlier this week by the Speaker of the legislature, who said the oath to the King was mandatory and authorized the sergeant-at-arms to expel members who don’t comply.
The three recently elected members of the Parti Québécois who still refuse to swear an oath to the King are marginalised by Nadeau-Dubois’ decision.
Nadeau-Dubois finds the Speaker’s decision disheartening, but a Québec Solidaire official claims that his party needs to be represented in the assembly in order to pass a measure making the oath optional.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec in the House, has stated that the government is prepared to act quickly to make the oath optional.
With intentions to introduce a measure making the commitment optional, Québec Solidaire will take the oath before King.