When policy advisors cannot reach a consensus

In this paper advisors are selected by two ministers with conflicting inter ests in order to (1) acquire information, and (2) obtain political legitima cy concerning a project. In the end, parliament decides whether or not the project, of which the consequences are uncertain, is implemented. In princi ple a minister wants to appoint an advisor whose preferences are similar. H owever, since the advisor needs to convince the decisive player in the mode l, the minister may appoint an advisor whose preferences are closer to thos e of the agents to be persuaded. We also show when polarised advice occurs (the advisors have different preferences) and when consensual advice occurs (they have the same preferences).