The first sitting day of the new Scottish Parliament term will take place on Thursday, with MSPs set to take their oaths and vote on who will oversee the Parliament.
Presiding Officer Candidates
Four members have put themselves forward for the Presiding Officer job: Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, who served as a deputy in the role in the last parliament, as well as the SNP's Kenny Gibson, Stuart McMillan, and Clare Haughey. The quartet took part in a hustings event at Holyrood on Wednesday, believed to be the first debate for the role.
Voting Process
The 129 members will be able to vote for their preferred candidate on Thursday afternoon. The Presiding Officer is effectively in charge of the political process at Holyrood, including overseeing debates and the weekly session of First Minister's Questions.
During the hustings, one candidate described the Holyrood chamber as "dull." Mr Gibson said: "It can be a place which is not the most exciting environment, and I do think we need to do more to liven it up."
Oaths to the Crown
The vote will come after MSPs swear their oath to the Crown. First Minister John Swinney will take his oath first, as leader of the largest party, followed by other party leaders and then the remaining members. In recent years, republican MSPs have disavowed the oath before taking it, as they cannot take their seat in Holyrood until they swear allegiance to the King.
This session of Parliament will be the first where MSPs do not swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022.
