Mark Helyar revealed on Wednesday that he was considering leading an amendment which, if approved, would scrap a secret ballot in favour of publishing the votes cast.
The vacancy was created by the resignation of P&R vice-president Gavin St Pier, following his recent re-arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and an offence under the 1948 Reform Law, which he denies.
Deputy Helyar was prompted to draft his amendment after Deputy St Pier confirmed his intention to stand in next week’s election and seek an immediate return to the senior committee.
‘P&R is the senior committee of government and the island’s reputation depends on the integrity of those who serve on it,’ said Deputy Helyar.
‘This is not about pre‑judging the outcome of any criminal investigation or undermining the presumption of innocence in the courts.
‘It is about whether it would be a responsible decision, in the public interest, to elevate to one of the highest public offices in the Bailiwick a person who is currently under investigation in respect of potentially serious criminal matters.’
He believed that immediately re-electing Deputy St Pier would be a serious error of judgement and damage Guernsey’s standing.
‘If any member is prepared to support such a candidature, then in my view the public has a right to know that they have done so,’ he said.
‘On an issue of this seriousness, there should be nowhere to hide behind the secrecy of a ballot.
‘An open, recorded vote is the only way to ensure proper transparency and accountability to the people we serve.’
Deputy Helyar’s amendment would vary the Assembly’s rules for the P&R election only.
Secret ballots would return for future elections.
The States experimented with open voting in 2012, but critics of the move who felt it affected relationships between politicians won the reintroduction of secret ballots a couple of years later.
Several States members have indicated an interest in joining P&R, including Deputies Haley Camp, Jayne Ozanne, David Goy and Simon Vermeulen.
Deputy Marc Laine is understood to be weighing up whether to run.
P&R has said it will not nominate Deputy St Pier, who can still stand with another proposer and seconder, and is understood to be interviewing potential nominees in the next few days.
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