National Council (Monaco)

The National Council (French: Conseil national; Monégasque: Cunsiyu naçiunale) is the unicameral parliament (legislative body) of the Principality of Monaco. Formed in 1911 after the Monégasque Revolution, the National Council initially had 12 members, increased to 18 in 1962 and 24 members since 2002, who are elected from lists by universal suffrage. The National Council is chaired by a president, who was initially appointed by the sovereign prince but has been elected by the National Council members since the year 1962. The current president of the National Council is Thomas Brezzo.

National Council

Conseil national
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
President
Thomas Brezzo, Priorité Monaco
since 3 April 2024
Vice President
Jean-Louis Grinda, UNM
since 17 February 2023
Structure
Seats24
Political groups
Majority (24):
  •   Monegasque National Union (24)
Elections
Block voting with Panachage (16)
Party-list proportional representation (8)
Last election
5 February 2023
Meeting place
Monaco City
Website
www.conseil-national.mc/index.php

History

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The Monégasque Revolution of 1910 was a series of confrontations by the subjects of Monaco against their ruler, Prince Albert I.[1] On 28 March 1910, Prince Albert I agreed to hold elections by universal suffrage for a parliament.[2] This led to the end of absolute monarchy with the promulgation of the Constitution of Monaco on 7 January 1911.[3] Elections were held for 12 members, with Prince Albert I retaining the right to appoint parliament's president.[4] The inaugural meeting of the new parliament was on 3 May 1911.[2]

The constitution was overhauled in 1962, which gave the National Council more power (including to elect the president of the chamber) and increased its membership to 18. Further changes were made to the constitution in 2002, further increasing the responsibility of the National Council and increasing its membership to 24.[4]

Description

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The body is composed of twenty-four members, who are elected from lists by universal suffrage. Of those, 16 seats are assigned from a majority list and 8 seats are filled proportionally from lists that obtain more than 5% of the votes.[5] Councillors serve for five-year terms, and though it may act independently of the Prince when debating legislation or the State Budget, the Prince shares mutual power between himself and the National Council. He may dissolve it at any time, provided that new elections be held within three months.[citation needed] To be eligible to vote, people must be at least 25 years old and hold citizenship.[5]

The Council meets at least twice per year to vote on the country's budget and bills proposed by the prince's government. Ordinances (executive orders) are debated in the Council of Government, and once approved, must be submitted to the Prince within eighty days for his signature, which makes them legally enforceable. If he does not express opposition within ten days of submission, they become valid.[citation needed] The current president of the National Council is Brigitte Boccone-Pagès.[6]

Presidents

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President Party Term Elected Ref.
Eugène Marquet 1911–1914 1911 [7]
Dissolved by: Albert I
Eugène Marquet 1918–1928 1918
1921
[8]
Jean Marsan 1929 1929 [9]
Eugène Marquet 1930 [10]
Dissolved by: Louis II
Henri Settimo 1933–1944 1933 [11]
Charles Bellando 1944–1950 1946 [12]
Louis Aureglia-Cima [fr] 1950–1954 1950 [13]
Joseph Simon 1954–1955 [14]
Louis Aureglia-Cima 1955–1958 1955 [15]
Joseph Simon National Union of Independents 1958–1959 1958 [16]
Dissolved by: Rainier III
Joseph Simon National and Democratic Union 1962–1968 1963 [17]
August Médecin National and Democratic Union 1968–1978 1968
1973
[18]
Jean-Charles Rey [fr] National and Democratic Union 1978–1993 1978
1983
1988
[19]
Jean-Louis Campora National and Democratic Union 1993–2003 1993
1998
[20]
Stéphane Valeri Union for the Principality 2003–2010 2003
2008
[21]
Jean-François Robillon Union Monégasque 2010–2013 [22]
Laurent Nouvion Rally & Issues 2013–2016 2013 [23]
Christophe Steiner Horizon Monaco 2016–2018 [24]
Stéphane Valeri Priorité Monaco 2018–2022 2018 [25]
Brigitte Boccone-Pagès Priorité Monaco 2022–2024 2023 [26]
Thomas Brezzo Priorité Monaco 2024– [27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Events that made the history of 1910 – what they were, where they happened and the chief actors in them; crash of absolutism and the growth of republican ideas" (PDF). The New York Times. 1 January 1911. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Monégasque citizens demand end to absolute monarchy (Monégasque Revolution), 1910". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Monaco gets constitution; Prince Albert proclaims it as gift to his 1,200 subjects" (PDF). The New York Times. Monte Carlo. 8 January 1911. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Histoire du Conseil National" [History of the National Council] (in French). National Council - Principality of Monaco. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Monaco goes to the polls: explore the principality's unique political system". Euronews. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Clear Overwhelming Victory for the Union National in the Monegasque National Elections". Hello Monaco. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ Eugène Marquet en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Eugène Marquet en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Jean Marsan en Conseil National
  10. ^ Eugène Marquet en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Henri Settimo en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Charles Bellando en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Louis Aureglia en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Joseph Simon en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Louis Aureglia en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Joseph Simon en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Joseph Simon en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ August Medecin en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Jean-Charles Rey en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Jean-Louis Campora en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Stéphane Valeri en Conseil National
  22. ^ Jean-François Robillon en Conseil National Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Laurent Nouvion en Conseil National Archived 16 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Monaco élit son nouveau président du Conseil national, Christophe Steiner". Nice Matin. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  25. ^ "Stéphane Valeri élu président du Conseil national". Nice Matin. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  26. ^ Incari, Sarah (7 October 2022). "Brigitte Boccone-Pagès becomes first female President of the National Council". Monaco Tribune. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  27. ^ Carpenter, Elsa (8 April 2024). "Thomas Brezzo, the new President of the Conseil National de Monaco, pledges an era of "dynamism"". Monaco Life. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
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