Hold Elections Soon on the Vacant Seats in Parliament under Indirect Process says Federal Council Body
Federal states Cooperation of Intergovernmental Council (CIC) today released a press statement regarding the elections of filling the vacant seats in the 10th parliament which remained unoccupied for the last 6 months stating to be held soon under the normal indirect election process.
In the official statement, the council mentioned about “new political motives casting doubt on holding the election.”
They also indicated constant nagging on the national council assemblies from the affected clans yet the High Court has ruled on postponing the said elections which prompted the council to issue a statement today on the matter.
First the council depicted its disappointment and opposes the decision of the high court to rule on the election case “in light of the strenuous long efforts to hold the election in the near future which the federal president released a decree and the 1st sitting of the 10th parliament that produced a new article in support of the other article of 22nd July 2017” read the statement.
Second the council “appealed to the national Independent Electoral commission (IEC) on the elections of the vacant seats peculiar to the 10th Parliament to be conducted on the process of the indirect election and the bill articles of the federal Lower House of 22nd July 2017 regarding filling the vacant seats.”
Third as stipulated in the interim constitution, the council raised the action of the High Court accusing it of a unilateral hearing of post election cases on the evidences presented only by the complainants who claimed that corruption influenced the end result of vote tallies.
Fourth the council also appealed to halt the “normalization of violating the laws and articles of the country.” In the same breath they “cautioned for a delay to occur on holding the elections on the vacant parliamentary seats which can lead to creating an enormous doubt on the confidene the public has on the courts which is fond of producing decisions that creates political instabilities and insecurity” added the statement.
Fifth they feel dismayed for the clans that the vacant seats belong to of having no representation in the national parliament for more than 6 months which created lack of leadership and support to the respective communities.
Similarly the council cautioned against exercising “a prolong delay on holding the elections which can cast doubt on the leadership, knowledge, technical skills and management of the Independent Electoral Commission giving way to questions on the future of the 2020 elections.”
In Somalia, one-person one-vote does not take place but an indirect one through a limited number of people selected by the traditional elders(s) of a particular clan.
In 2016 there were 51 delegates who appointed each Member of Parliament but in 2012, traditional elders directly appointed MPs.
Goobjoog News