Quebec Solidaire Leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois walks to his caucus during a ceremony where he swore allegiance to the people of Quebec but refused to swear allegiance to King Charles III, at the Quebec legislature, on Oct. 19.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
The 11 recently elected members of Québec solidaire are no longer refusing to swear an oath of office to King Charles III.
Spokesperson 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.
Québec 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.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois’ decision isolates the three recently elected members of the Parti Québécois, who continue to refuse to swear the oath to the King.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois says the Speaker’s decision is disappointing, but the Québec solidaire spokesperson says that to pass a law making the oath optional, his party needs to sit in the legislature.
Coalition Avenir Québec house leader Simon Jolin-Barrette has said the government is ready to move quickly to make the oath optional.