Sudan’s ruling NCP says Supreme Court determines government legitimacy
May 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – A senior official in Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) dismissed calls by opposition parties for the dissolution of the government to prepare for elections.
But the powerful presidential assistant Nafi Ali Nafi described the calls as being based on “weak grounds”.
Nafi said that there is no legal basis for the claim that the government is illegitimate saying those who stand behind it are “fooling people in the name of law and constitution”.
He called for those questioning the legitimacy of the national unity government to resort to the constitutional court for a ruling on the issue.
The government of national unity consists of the NCP and ex-Southern rebel group, Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) and other smaller parties.
The SPLM took part in the meeting of opposition parties as an observer but did not go as far as calling for dissolution of government. In the past SPLM officials have suggested their disagreement with the proposal.
The opposition parties say that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) mandated elections to be held by July 2009 but the deadline was missed effectively delegitimizing the government.
The elections were rescheduled for February 2010 due to logistical challenges and delays in milestones such as census, press and security law as well as North-South border dispute.
Nafi rejected any attempts to undermine the credibility and independence of the electoral commission denying that it is influenced by the government.
He rejected any talk about delaying elections to avoid Kenya or Zimbabwe like scenario.
The opposition alliance have threatened to boycott elections unless changes are made to “freedom restricting laws” including press law and the existence of a “good election record”.
But some observers say that despite its reservations opposition parties will be hesitant to boycott the elections leaving the NCP with the potential for a landslide victory.
(ST)