It could take up to six months for the new merged Opposition to elect a leader and fully become a single entity, according to Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz.But that’s not to say it can’t unite in the meantime to respond as one party to this year’s Budget on February 18, the Deputy Opposition Leader said yesterday.Mr Moniz told The Royal Gazette: “We probably need a transitional agreement, a timeframe to do certain things.”He said the complicated process of dissolving two parties and bringing them together as a single unit with its own constitution, elected officers and committees could take anywhere between three to six months.“The quicker we do it the better but we have got to do it properly and get everybody on board,” said Mr Moniz. “That’s a process that takes time.“This really hasn’t been done before in Bermuda, not that I’m aware of. We have never had two parties forming a new party.“Obviously it’s challenging and it’s a new thing and it’s quite exciting. But we have to iron out the details.”As revealed by The Royal Gazette yesterday, the United Bermuda Party and Bermuda Democratic Alliance have agreed to a definite amalgamation and want to join forces in time for the Budget.The UBP held a meeting of its central council on Wednesday, when the executive was given approval to continue discussions to form a united Opposition.The BDA had a caucus meeting on Tuesday, when concerns were raised by some party members not keen on joining forces.But Alliance MP Shawn Crockwell, who has been involved in the merger negotiations, said though internal party discussions were still going on, there was no doubt the amalgamation would happen.He and Mr Moniz have been involved in the merger talks along with Senator Michael Dunkley, UBP MPs Grant Gibbons, John Barritt and Bob Richards and the BDA’s Craig Cannonier, Michael Fahy and Mark Pettingill.Mr Moniz said once the merger was finally agreed, there would still be much to decide.“It’s a whole slew of positions, we have got senators, we have got all sorts of party positions, all these various jobs we have got. There’s got to be some agreement on how we are going to move forward.”The leadership issue may not be decided quickly, according to Mr Moniz, who declined to speculate on who might run for the top job.In a Mindmaps poll conducted last month, 27 percent of respondents thought Sen Dunkley should lead a merged Opposition.But the Shadow National Security Minister would not declare his intentions yesterday. “I’m not going to get involved in those internal politics at this point,” he said. “I want people to know, at the end of the day, whether they like me or not, they can count on me to get the job done.”Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill are insisting on calling the merger a transition. MP Mr Pettingill said: “That’s how we need to perhaps look at things. It really is the creation of something new.”But not everyone in the party is convinced. BDA member delMonte Davis, a former deputy chairman of the UBP, said he would leave the Alliance now the merger was certain.Mr Davis, The Royal Gazette’s circulation manager, said: “The reason I’m doing this is because I think that this joining while it may solve their political challenges is only enabling the United Bermuda Party to continue to represent the historic angst that essentially black people have been so concerned about.”He added that the UBP needed to “deconstruct with contrition”.The leaders of both parties were silent yesterday on the merger. BDA Leader Mr Cannonier said he had no comment. UBP Leader Kim Swan said: “The party chairman is speaking on our and my behalf.”UBP chairman Jeanne Atherden said on Wednesday the goal was to unite before the Budget.* Useful websites: www.ubp.bm and www.thealliance.bm.