Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Interim govt. necessary to make the transition - Ibra

21 November 2007
Report: Soodh

MP for Male’ Ibrahim Ismail, Ibra, has said that there is no hope of the new constitution coming into force without a united government being setup. Ibra further said that on the completion of the constitutional reform, the new constitution can come in to force and an election can be held after the control of the government is handed over to the people agreed upon at the political front.

Ibra said a united government should be established not because it is required by Law, but after reaching a consensus among stake holders.

“Decisions which are based on the national stability and political harmony can be made; these does not necessarily has to have a constitutional mandate, these are not done because it required by Law, but these are implemented after due considerations among the stakeholders and if a decision is reached” said Ibra.

Ibra said that he does not believe the new constitution can come in to force without an interim government in place. He said that he is not saying it is mandatory to establish an interim government. He further said election under the new constitution can only be held after the government is taken over by persons agreed by the political parties. In order to cross the stages to make the transition from the existing constitution to the new one, all of us should unite and work in a more open and just manner said Ibra.

Member of Parliament for Male’ Ibrahim Ismail said in order to hold an election under the new constitution, many things need to be accomplished and that these cannot be done by President Gayoom or his cabinet or even by the present Majlis.

“I am not talking about a national unity government, I am taking about making the transition from the current to the Constitution, and in order to do that we have implement many steps, I am talking about coming together in an open, fair manner, I am talking about increasing the participation of others; this is how it is done in other countries when major changes to constitution takes place” said Ibra.

Renowned Laywer Husnu Al Suood in an interview given to Miadhu said that under the present constitution an interim government is not required in order to make the transition to the new constitution.

Speaking at the news conference DRP’s Deputy Leader as well as Minister for Atolls Development Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has said those who want share the powers of the government by forming an interim government are those who had placed the most hurdles in the path of the constitutional reform process. He further said that an interim government can only be justified when the running of the government is rendered impossible through the failure of the powers of the government and political turmoil.

Speaking at a general meeting of the Dhivehi Rahyithuge Party, DRP, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Leader of the party as well as the country’s President has said that DRP will not support the notion of establishing an interim government to govern the country during the transitional period.

Dr. Munnawar in an interview given to Miadhu said that the Leader of DRP does not understand what MDP is saying.

“What we are saying is those elected under the present constitution will not any constitutional mandate, their authority will cease to exist once the new constitution comes in to force, people will elected to the positions stipulated under the new constitution, whether it is the President or Members of the Parliament, what I am saying there should be people to run the government during that period” said Dr. Munnawar.

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