This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.
The phenomenon of post-electoral "floor-crossing", in other
words, a changing at the national level of a political affiliation
by a parliamentarian or a group of parliamentarians in the course
of their electoral mandate, is well known in many parliaments of
member States of the Council of Europe where it can be observed
to a greater or lesser extent according to the parliament.
Apart from the criticisms arising from this phenomenon related
to issues such as political opportunism, the threat to public confidence
towards the political class, or, again, the internal discipline
of political parties, the post-electoral shifting of a member of
the Assembly from one party or political group to another or his
or her decision to leave a party to sit as an independent member
may have an implication on the balance of political forces’ representation
within a national delegation.
In this connection, an analysis of the reasons that lead to
"floor-crossing" and its implication on the functioning of parliament
would allow the Assembly to complete the criteria on a fair representation
of political parties and groups within a national delegation laid
down by the Rules of Procedure.
