Leader of the Opposition (Antigua and Barbuda)

The Governor-General must select the opposition leader, except when there aren't any House members who are against the government. When the need for a opposition leader arises, the Governor-General must appoint the member of the House who, in their opinion, is most likely to be supported by the majority of House members who oppose the government; or, if no member of the House appears to them to be so supported, the member of the House who, in their opinion, is most likely to be supported by the largest single group of House members who oppose the government provided that the Governor-General may, acting in his discretion, appoint any one of the two or more members of the House who oppose the government as opposition leader. In exercising this discretion, the Governor-General shall be guided by each member's seniority based on the number of years he or she has served as a member of the House and by the votes cast in favor of each at the most recent election of members.[1]

If it is essential to select a opposition leader between the time that Parliament is dissolved and the day that the members of the House are subsequently elected, the appointment may be made as if Parliament was never dissolved. The Governor-General must remove the opposition leader from office if it appears that they can no longer gather the support of the largest group of members of the House who are against the Government or the majority of members of the House who are against the Government.[1]

The opposition leader has the following constitutionally mandated responsibilities:[1]

• The Governor-General, acting on the counsel of the opposition leader, must appoint four senators.
• The Governor-General, acting in line with the Prime Minister's advice and following consultation with the opposition leader, must select the Chairman of the Constituencies Boundaries Commission.
• The Governor-General, in agreement with the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, appoints no more than four additional members of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
• The Prime Minister must consult the opposition leader before giving the Governor-General any advise about the Public Service Commission.
• The Prime Minister must first consult with the opposition leader before offering any advice to the Governor-General about the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, or the Public Service Board of Appeal.

 This article incorporates public domain material from documents of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

• Politics of Antigua and Barbuda
• Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
• Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda