Constitutional body reviews Sudan’s election law, waits political compromise
February 9, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — In a meeting co-chaired by Abdallah Idris and Abel Alier, the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) adopted the draft law of the general elections except the eleven disputed articles that left unresolved for a consensual solution by the peace partners before their discussion by the NCRC.
The disputed articles deal with proportional representation, women representation and the number of constituencies. The SPLM tries to persuade the National Congress Party (NCP) to accept a common position that it shares with rest of the political forces in the countries.
The meeting reviewed and passed articles related to the composition of the National Elections Commission its attributions, functions and the election campaign. Also the NCRC discussed articles on the election register and requirements for the voter and the candidate. It further tackled corrupt methods and practices and irregularities that occur during the electoral campaign.
Meeting discussed the electoral system without going in the disputed articles on the proportional representation, articles 29 to 40 of the draft law.
The Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha of the NCP went Friday to Juba to discuss the electoral law with the First Vice-President and the SPLM Chairman, Slava Kiir Mayadrit.
The meeting approved articles on the election of the President of the Republic and election of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan by absolute majority (50 percent + 1), while stressed the election of Governors by simple majority
Ghazi Suleiman, SPLM representative in the commission said that the dispute with the National Congress Party is not possible and the peace partners are aware of the consequences of disagreement because it would lead again to the war.
He added “we must agree on the law and the SPLM hopes to win consensus on it and we realize that without NCP there will be no unanimity.”
The SPLM coordinate its position on the electoral law with the opposition forces in the country. The latest meeting was on Sunday February 3 where the SPLM informed them that the NCP upholds his position opposed to assign a reasonable place to proportional representation.
The SPLM position — as it is agreed with the political forces – is to distribute the constituencies 50% elected by proportional representation system and 50% of the seats are elected by majority election system. Women are represented by 50% of the proportional representation lists.
The NCP wants 60% for the majority election system and 40% for the proportional representation system. Regarding women, it proposes to establish separate lists on the state level and the list that obtains the highest votes will have all the seats.
The NCRC set a two-week deadline that expires on 16 February for the two CPA partners to adopt a common position on the disputed articles. The two partners, the NCP and the SPLM are expected to hold two meetings on 11 and 14 February to find out a common ground of the draft law.
(ST)