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Momodou
Denmark
11769 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Jan 2007 : 13:58:00
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Foroyaa Editorial:
THE FUTURE OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA
The Western Division, the KMC and Banjul have over 48% of the voting population. All but one of the seats which is now occupied by an Independent Candidate in this area went to the APRC. The 2007 Parliamentary elections is considered to be a decisive one. In a multiparty system one envisages a balance of power in parliament so that the approval of bills, international agreements and budgets are negotiated. This is very clear in the US where the Democrats now have the majority in Congress. Such balance of power enables a government to benefit from criticism and scrutiny. It is such legitimate criticism and effective scrutiny that helps to restrain a government and bar it from violation of laws and general misconduct.
Prior to the elections it was a common view that the government would be better checked if the opposition had 27 seats in the National Assembly which would have given them an absolute majority since there are 52 voting members of the National Assembly. Some analysts felt that this could be achieved through a tactical alliance between the various opposition parties and Independent Candidates.
One may now ask: How did the opposition parties perform in the election? Would a tactical alliance have made any difference?
What is the way forward for multiparty politics in the country?
The results reveal that out of 29 contested seats the UDP managed to win 4 seats. Out of 8 contested seats the NRP emerged without a single seat. Out of 5 contested seats NADD emerged with 1 seat.
One independent candidate won. Hence there are now six seats that are not under the direct control of the members of parliament elected under an APRC ticket.
It is evident from the results that a tactical alliance would have made a difference. In short, if one adds the results of the independent candidate and that of the UDP candidate in Jokadu it becomes apparent that with a tactical alliance the Independent candidate would have won.
The same goes for Kombo South where the Independent candidate would have won if the UDP candidate gave him his support.
It goes without saying that in 10 constituencies the difference between the APRC candidate and the opposition combined is less than 500 votes.
It is therefore logical to assume that tactical alliance between the opposition parties in addition to Independent candidates could have enabled them to win no less than 18 seats.
What is the way forward? Five years lie ahead. All parties have displayed their tactics. Some have emerged without seats and others with few seats.
It is now left to the electorate to decide. Whether they will vote on party lines during National Assembly elections or on the basis of the merit of the candidates. If the people fail to take ownership of their minds and cast their votes based on merit, mediocrity will be the order of the day in our parliament and good governance shall be the casualty. The voter apathy which is generally caused by people selling their voters’ cards or giving priority to things other than merit voting will always lead to undesirable results and regrets. The fundamental lesson needs to be learnt that a sovereign person’s power is his or her voter’s card. Any person who refrains from voting or votes because of inducement is a virtual slave. Such people cannot take charge of their destiny. The way forward for a multiparty system is to create a sovereign Gambian who votes on the basis of the dictate of conscience and the national interest. Anything that falls short of this is disaster.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 011/2007, 29-30 January, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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