Guernsey chief minister election rules relaxed

Moves to remove restrictions on who can stand for the position of Guernsey's chief minister have been approved by the States.

Previously deputies had to have served four or more of the last eight years to qualify for the role.

The change was approved by a vote of 26-18 and means new nominations can be taken from the floor.

That means any of the 47 States members could be put forward for the position. Previously only 23 had been eligible.

The States also agreed that voting in the election for chief minister would be given openly, rather than the previous system of secret ballot.

Deputy Lyndon Trott, the current chief minister, suggested the need for a change.

Earlier he had withdrawn a separate motion for the voting record in the secret ballot to be published after the election.