Leader of the Opposition (Istalia)

The Leader of the Opposition is an unofficial, mostly conventional and honorary title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly of Istalia not within the government. He/she is usually the person who is expected to lead that party into the next general election.

The current leader of the Opposition is Simonetta Giuliani of the Left Bloc.

Role
There is some ambiguity on the requirements needed to hold the post due to its workings being based mostly on custom and convention.

By tradition, a series of conditions for the role and awarded some prerogatives for the officeholder have been established:
 * 1) Determination of the person fulfilling the role of leader of the opposition must meet criteria of effective Senatorial number preeminence
 * 2) There must not be a formal appointment
 * 3) There is no need to raise compatibility issues for the role
 * 4) Must lack a full-blown salary, even if it may have a right to representation expenses, vehicle availability as well as the care provided for bureau members

However, despite the possibility for some privileges in consideration of its position being optionally awarded, the Leader of the Opposition is not entitled to a specific salary aside from the one they may have by reason of holding a public office on their own—such as that of senator. In addition, the officeholder usually receives much more attention from the media in parliamentary sessions and activities, such as in the yearly-held State of the Nation Debate.

Even with the absence of a law defining the role of the Opposition Leader, it is customary to conduct update meetings between the Prime Minister and the chairman of the largest party not within the government. However, such meetings are carried out mostly according to the Prime Minister's decision. Established precedent has also led for the Leader of the Opposition usually sitting directly across from the Prime Minister in the National Assembly seating plan. It is not required for a Leader of the Opposition to held the post of deputy in the Assembly.