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The Coalition Unravels - Early 1986
El País - Speaker Blanco Reopens Parliament
Montevideo - After a week of uncertainty following the unexpected closure of Parliament as a result of fighting on the floor, Speaker Blanco reconvened the legislature Monday afternoon. Parliament was reopened with the barest of quorums -- the MPs that instigated the fighting were notably absent, as was the Prime Minister and what remains of his Cabinet -- and immediately went into recess, forestalling a decision on the future of this parliament for another two weeks.
In fact, the session was so brief, that independent MPs weren't even able to get onto the floor before it was all over: when Robert Moses (MP University Park) appealed that he had a right to be heard, Blanco cut him off and told him to "leave the floor to the leader of the opposition", a position that has been vacant for 7 years. The young MP attempted to talk over the Speaker, but in a further show of the veteran MP’s acumen and talent for herding legislators, Moses would find himself speaking to an empty chamber only 20 minutes after it had opened.
The recess has thus forestalled the threat of an immediate election, and Prime Minister Smith owes it all to Speaker Blanco; thanks to the formidable Speaker’s maneuvering, the National Coalition has bought itself two vital weeks to sort itself out before the inevitable dissolution of Parliament and the beginning of the election campaign in January.
Atlantic Post - Alan Smith resigns as Prime Minister, recommends Charles Everett as successor
Montevideo - In an impromptu press conference on the steps of 33 River Road, Prime Minister Alan Smith announced his resignation as Prime Minister and his intention to retire from politics when Parliament reconvenes in the New Year.
While his retirement from politics was widely expected, his announcement of his resignation as Prime Minister while Parliament is in recess has taken the National Coalition by surprise: sources close to the Prime Minister said that his sudden exit was due to what they call “excessive recriminations” from “former friends”, and the outgoing PM added more fuel to the fire by ending his tenure with an off-the-cuff endorsement.
When asked who should succeed him at the helm of the National Coalition, many expected the conservative stalwart to endorse one of Mark Dancy or James Cowen, who’ve already tossed their names into the ring from the right, or to simply leave the question unanswered. Instead, and breaking with National Coalition tradition, he would recommend that the party nominate his long-time protegé and ally Charles Everett.
While the Post has reached out to several members of the National Coalition for comment, it seems that silence is still the rule in the governing party; furthermore, Speaker Blanco refused to say what would happen when Parliament reopens on the 6th, but sources agree that this will inevitably accelerate a split and guarantee an even earlier election, likely as soon as February.
El País - Exclusive Interview with Speaker Daniel Blanco
Montevideo - With the resignation of Alan Smith, the keys to the National Coalition are firmly in the Speaker’s hands: it was his maneuvering that staved off a snap election, and it was his deft handling of Parliament that allowed it to recess before the Coalition collapsed on live TV. In the midst of rampant speculation and hermetic silence from National Coalition offices, the Speaker has agreed to an exclusive interview with El País in the paper’s Montevideo offices.
Editor’s note: the interview was conducted in Spanish, but is reproduced in English for publication; responses have been edited for brevity.
-Speaker Blanco, thank you for being here. What led to the sudden change in strategy, after a week of radio silence out of Parliament?
-Thank you for having me! I’m glad to have the opportunity to transmit a message of security and calm to the population. It’s vital to be transparent in what can feel like a time of crisis and make it clear that there are still adults in charge.
-Who is in charge Mr. Speaker?
-Why, the National Coalition; this is not a one-man operation, and we still command a clear, unassailable majority in Parliament.
-That may be true, but with Alan Smith’s resignation, the question on everyone’s mind is, well, who replaces him?
-I understand the rush to find out who will succeed him, but anyone familiar with how these things work will understand why any speculation on the subject is both premature and counter-productive. The Coalition has mechanisms in place for precisely this situation; MPs will meet this weekend to discuss the issue.
-But surely a frontrunner has already appeared, or is there uncertainty even among the MPs?
-Look, the truth is that a contested nomination would not be unprecedented, and I think it best to respect the institutional framework we have in place and allow the party to arrive at a decision organically and democratically. Any talk of “frontrunners” or “favorites” would be a disservice to the hundreds of men and women in our parliamentary party, any of whom could conceivably become Prime Minister.
-That may sound nice in principle, but the last contested nomination was nearly 20 years ago, and it nearly split the party.
-I think that’s a precedent that our MPs are well aware of, and no one will enter that meeting hoping for anything else than a united party when Parliament reconvenes.
-And what about the rumors of an imminent split?
-Rumors will always swirl around uneasy silences; that’s why I felt it was so important to assuage fears of a split, by making it clear that despite our differences, we are still in agreement on the fundamental purpose of the National Coalition, and remain united. This weekend will reaffirm our commitment to national unity and prosperity.
-Well, once again thank you for speaking to us Mr. Speaker.
-No, thank you; it was my pleasure.
Montevideo Telegraph - Dancy, Cowen criticize Blanco’s interview
Montevideo - In the wake of Speaker Blanco’s interview in El País, some within the National Coalition have spoken out against Blanco, arguing that he’s overstepping his authority and breaching parliamentary decorum by speaking to the press about partisan issues despite ostensibly serving a non-partisan role.
James Cowen was the first to comment, stating that while he shared his sentiment that the situation was under control and that there should be no doubt about the continuity of the National Coalition, he said that the Speaker had unnecessarily waded into a factional dispute in which he had no stake, adding dryly that the Speakership was “a largely ceremonial and token position, more symbolic than significant”.
Mark Dancy however went even further, and seemed incensed at the interview: “Daniel Blanco has no business commenting on a process that he shouldn’t be involved in. That he chose to give the interview in Spanish in an Oriental paper only highlights that he’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and blabbing to the wrong people about it. I’ve spoken to several likeminded MPs and fully intend to remind him what his role in the Coalition is when he announces me as the next Prime Minister on Sunday”.
Speaker Blanco refused to reply to repeated requests for comment from the Telegraph, although one source close to the Speaker did offer the following: “If Mark Dancy wants the keys to 33 River Road, he should drop by Daniel’s house to get them”.
Montevideo - After a week of uncertainty following the unexpected closure of Parliament as a result of fighting on the floor, Speaker Blanco reconvened the legislature Monday afternoon. Parliament was reopened with the barest of quorums -- the MPs that instigated the fighting were notably absent, as was the Prime Minister and what remains of his Cabinet -- and immediately went into recess, forestalling a decision on the future of this parliament for another two weeks.
In fact, the session was so brief, that independent MPs weren't even able to get onto the floor before it was all over: when Robert Moses (MP University Park) appealed that he had a right to be heard, Blanco cut him off and told him to "leave the floor to the leader of the opposition", a position that has been vacant for 7 years. The young MP attempted to talk over the Speaker, but in a further show of the veteran MP’s acumen and talent for herding legislators, Moses would find himself speaking to an empty chamber only 20 minutes after it had opened.
The recess has thus forestalled the threat of an immediate election, and Prime Minister Smith owes it all to Speaker Blanco; thanks to the formidable Speaker’s maneuvering, the National Coalition has bought itself two vital weeks to sort itself out before the inevitable dissolution of Parliament and the beginning of the election campaign in January.
Atlantic Post - Alan Smith resigns as Prime Minister, recommends Charles Everett as successor
Montevideo - In an impromptu press conference on the steps of 33 River Road, Prime Minister Alan Smith announced his resignation as Prime Minister and his intention to retire from politics when Parliament reconvenes in the New Year.
While his retirement from politics was widely expected, his announcement of his resignation as Prime Minister while Parliament is in recess has taken the National Coalition by surprise: sources close to the Prime Minister said that his sudden exit was due to what they call “excessive recriminations” from “former friends”, and the outgoing PM added more fuel to the fire by ending his tenure with an off-the-cuff endorsement.
When asked who should succeed him at the helm of the National Coalition, many expected the conservative stalwart to endorse one of Mark Dancy or James Cowen, who’ve already tossed their names into the ring from the right, or to simply leave the question unanswered. Instead, and breaking with National Coalition tradition, he would recommend that the party nominate his long-time protegé and ally Charles Everett.
While the Post has reached out to several members of the National Coalition for comment, it seems that silence is still the rule in the governing party; furthermore, Speaker Blanco refused to say what would happen when Parliament reopens on the 6th, but sources agree that this will inevitably accelerate a split and guarantee an even earlier election, likely as soon as February.
El País - Exclusive Interview with Speaker Daniel Blanco
View attachment 543038
Daniel Blanco in the Speaker's office
Daniel Blanco in the Speaker's office
Montevideo - With the resignation of Alan Smith, the keys to the National Coalition are firmly in the Speaker’s hands: it was his maneuvering that staved off a snap election, and it was his deft handling of Parliament that allowed it to recess before the Coalition collapsed on live TV. In the midst of rampant speculation and hermetic silence from National Coalition offices, the Speaker has agreed to an exclusive interview with El País in the paper’s Montevideo offices.
Editor’s note: the interview was conducted in Spanish, but is reproduced in English for publication; responses have been edited for brevity.
-Speaker Blanco, thank you for being here. What led to the sudden change in strategy, after a week of radio silence out of Parliament?
-Thank you for having me! I’m glad to have the opportunity to transmit a message of security and calm to the population. It’s vital to be transparent in what can feel like a time of crisis and make it clear that there are still adults in charge.
-Who is in charge Mr. Speaker?
-Why, the National Coalition; this is not a one-man operation, and we still command a clear, unassailable majority in Parliament.
-That may be true, but with Alan Smith’s resignation, the question on everyone’s mind is, well, who replaces him?
-I understand the rush to find out who will succeed him, but anyone familiar with how these things work will understand why any speculation on the subject is both premature and counter-productive. The Coalition has mechanisms in place for precisely this situation; MPs will meet this weekend to discuss the issue.
-But surely a frontrunner has already appeared, or is there uncertainty even among the MPs?
-Look, the truth is that a contested nomination would not be unprecedented, and I think it best to respect the institutional framework we have in place and allow the party to arrive at a decision organically and democratically. Any talk of “frontrunners” or “favorites” would be a disservice to the hundreds of men and women in our parliamentary party, any of whom could conceivably become Prime Minister.
-That may sound nice in principle, but the last contested nomination was nearly 20 years ago, and it nearly split the party.
-I think that’s a precedent that our MPs are well aware of, and no one will enter that meeting hoping for anything else than a united party when Parliament reconvenes.
-And what about the rumors of an imminent split?
-Rumors will always swirl around uneasy silences; that’s why I felt it was so important to assuage fears of a split, by making it clear that despite our differences, we are still in agreement on the fundamental purpose of the National Coalition, and remain united. This weekend will reaffirm our commitment to national unity and prosperity.
-Well, once again thank you for speaking to us Mr. Speaker.
-No, thank you; it was my pleasure.
Montevideo Telegraph - Dancy, Cowen criticize Blanco’s interview
Montevideo - In the wake of Speaker Blanco’s interview in El País, some within the National Coalition have spoken out against Blanco, arguing that he’s overstepping his authority and breaching parliamentary decorum by speaking to the press about partisan issues despite ostensibly serving a non-partisan role.
James Cowen was the first to comment, stating that while he shared his sentiment that the situation was under control and that there should be no doubt about the continuity of the National Coalition, he said that the Speaker had unnecessarily waded into a factional dispute in which he had no stake, adding dryly that the Speakership was “a largely ceremonial and token position, more symbolic than significant”.
Mark Dancy however went even further, and seemed incensed at the interview: “Daniel Blanco has no business commenting on a process that he shouldn’t be involved in. That he chose to give the interview in Spanish in an Oriental paper only highlights that he’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and blabbing to the wrong people about it. I’ve spoken to several likeminded MPs and fully intend to remind him what his role in the Coalition is when he announces me as the next Prime Minister on Sunday”.
Speaker Blanco refused to reply to repeated requests for comment from the Telegraph, although one source close to the Speaker did offer the following: “If Mark Dancy wants the keys to 33 River Road, he should drop by Daniel’s house to get them”.
- minifidel
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