Postponing elections is cowardly; against the will of the people

An unknown entrepreneur is in the news after he petitioned the Supreme Court yesterday seeking an order to prevent the Election Commission from conducting the Presidential Election until the Court decides on the incumbent President’s tenure. The petitioner has been identified as C.D. Lenawa. The timing of the petition is suspicious given it comes weeks after UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara proposed that a referendum be held to postpone both presidential and parliamentary elections by two years to extend President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s term to continue ongoing economic reforms. 

The public will be hopeful that the SC will dismiss the petition given that any postponement of elections will be disastrous to the country and will lead to wide public unrest.

The Presidential election is due in early October and the fight is tough for all candidates but more so for the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

While still keeping the public guessing, he has given strong indications that he will contest the Presidential election.

During his address to the nation on 26 June when he announced the finalisation of the bilateral debt restructuring agreement, he posed several questions to the public. “Will you move forward with me, who comprehended the problem from its inception, offered practical solutions, and delivered results? Or will you align with those grappling in the dark, still struggling to grasp the issues? Will you stay the course towards a brighter future for yourself and the nation? Or will you opt for a different path?”

This makes it clear that the President is keen to continue in office and hence will contest the election, but he also must know that he has a tough fight at hand to win over voters.

The SLPP which has overwhelmingly backed him since he took office in July 2022 has so far not said they would do so if he contests the polls. There is clearly a division within the SLPP with a significant number backing him, but the powerful Rajapaksa faction of the party has been giving mixed signals on if they will support him or not.

Meanwhile, talks are also underway with some members of the main opposition to get them to support the President at the upcoming election while there are moves to court minority votes as well. The President has also launched several welfare programs including the program to grant freehold land titles as well as give appointments in the State sector. He has the advantage that any incumbent will have but even with that added advantage, he remains deeply unpopular with a significant number of voters.

The President is in the inevitable position that he is unable to distance himself from the unpopular Rajapaksa family and their party, the SLPP, given they retain sizable support among voters which will be crucial at the Presidential election. On the flip side, the Rajapaksas are also a liability for him given that all the anger directed at former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family is directed at the incumbent. For both sides it’s been an unhappy arrangement they are forced to be in for political survival.

Being a seasoned politician Ranil Wickremesinghe knows from his own experience that winning an election, particularly at a time when voters are divided on many fronts, is not easy. But he must also know that any attempt to postpone elections will have far worse repercussions than losing an election.

What the President and his supporters must do if they are keen to win the election is carry out an effective campaign and engage with undecided voters and win them over. But postponing elections is cowardly and goes against the will of the people.