London - With all the main opinion polls predicting no party winning a majority in Britain's general election on Thursday, the stage is set for complex negotiations that could result in four core scenarios.
Informal talks are expected to start as early as Friday once results are in, even as the key political leaders take part in commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The first newly-elected parliamentarians could begin making their way to London from Monday, the same day that the Labour Party is expected to hold its first parliamentary party meeting.
Beyond that little is certain except that MPs formally meet on May 18 and Queen Elizabeth II is due to deliver her traditional speech -- usually written by the winning side -- in parliament on May 27.
At the end of May or in the first week of June, parliament votes on the Queen's Speech -- usually a vote of confidence in the new government.
If MPs vote against the policy speech, then the opposition would have two weeks for another vote. And if that vote too falls through, another election would become inevitable -- an unprecedented outcome.
AFP
