The end is: Nay?

Friday, 10 April 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The gauntlet to dissolve Parliament is now laid. Vote for the 19th Amendment or face dissolution. Tempting fate by threat may not be in the interest of those (if any) who genuinely want the planned or intended changes in the Constitution to succeed despite the fact that two-thirds of those in office together with their hangers-on will be out in the cold. All the indications are that all who fear loss of office will attempt to ensure the amendment fails, safe in the knowledge that the result would be dissolution without any change in the constitution, giving them a better chance at political survival! So who stands to gain the most if the 19th Amendment passes albeit with many grey and imperfect or outright defective, ill-conceived areas? The public. Who stands to lose the most if not passed? The public. Now caught in a forked stick! The coalition interim Government is visibly on the skids, with the envisaged national government being little more than a pipe dream. It would be safe to say that those who wish for a national government and those who wish to defeat the 19th Amendment are split 50/50 down the middle within the political behemoth, both for the same reason. They fear defeat or exclusion. Whichever way the cookie crumbles, the chances of a viable, stable national government is the remotest reality! Who remains unaffected? Only the President. And the people. For now. This may well be the safest option for now since the people are shielded by the very power vested in the presidency, if not abused. What is the solution in the worst scenario? Can the President retain all his power? Can he take the time to have the constitutional provisions examined by non-partisan, constitutional experts? Can he put it to referendum without any two-third majority in Parliament? Would this not be the answer? Given the old saying that “people get the government they deserve”; who among the public could possibly complain once they agree to a Constitution that they wish to be governed by? The Parliament is only the agent of the people. The people are the principals. It is the principals who elect representatives to do the national housekeeping. It is time all parliamentarians understood this cardinal principle. The people will stand by the President against all odds to implement a clear, balanced, strong constitution that guarantees equity, protection and sovereignty of the people and ensures absolute protection from all and any form of abuse of power without favour with prescribed pecuniary and penal provisions. The President was elected by the people on the promise that he would reform the executive presidency to end any future possibility of abuse of power and to ensure transparency and law in governance. No more, and no less. The promise was not contingent upon forming an interim government. So why rely on a fickle, two-third majority in Parliament? When he can go back to the same people who elected him in the first place? This is the only way he can clear all the garbage and set up a clean, disciplined Parliament without all the cheap horse trading he is compelled to resort to presently. Perhaps the best thing that can happen is the defeat of the 19th Amendment in its present form. That would give the President good reason to use his executive power to take the time to draft a complete constitution with expert, independent, nonpartisan assistance and go to his people in a referendum. This writer believes the President knows that by now. T.E., Kotte