This is how the opening debate takes place:
* The opening debate is based on the Prime Minister’s opening speech. Therefore, the discussions are basically about the government’s plans for the coming parliamentary year as well as the general state of the kingdom.
* The debate begins at 9.00 am, when the parties’ political rapporteurs are given the floor in order of the size of the parliamentary groups. One by one, they hold their rapporteur speech for ten minutes.
* After each rapporteur speech, members of parliament can ask questions to the current rapporteur. The comments must be settled within three quarters of an hour.
* When all the parties ‘rapporteurs’ speeches are over, the Prime Minister has the floor for half an hour. After this, all members can again make brief remarks. The comments must be settled within an hour.
* If the rapporteurs so wish, the opening debate will move on to the second round. Here, each rapporteur has five minutes to speak in a new speech. Afterwards, there is again access to short remarks.
* The second round of rapporteurs also ends with a speech by the Prime Minister, who has speaking time for a quarter of an hour. Here, rapporteurs can once again make brief remarks. The comments must be completed within half an hour.
* Members of parliament can also make a private speech of up to five minutes. Afterwards, up to three members can make brief remarks.
* The opening debate is typically interrupted by a lunch break and a dinner break, each lasting one hour from 12 noon and 6 p.m.
* Last year, the opening debate lasted almost 15 hours and thus ended shortly before midnight.
Source: Parliament.
Source: The Nordic Page