Editorial
Framework for elections at long last
But a number of provisions can be revisited
DEVELOPING a framework for the upcoming elections is a crucial milestone on the path back to democracy and thus the anticipated promulgation of the RPO 2008 is to be welcomed. However, while we think that the new ordinance is in large part well conceived, there are also provisions that we think should be revisited before the ordinance is finalised.
The crux issue of political party registration we are glad to see has been addressed. This had long been a lacuna in the political process, all the more remarkable given that businesses, educational institutions, NGOs and the like must be registered under the law of the land.
The regulations set forth for registration seem to us to be unexceptionable, and we applaud the efforts to mandate a bottom up procedure for determining party nominations and the criterion by which political parties are to be declared eligible for elections. Nor do we have any notable quarrel with the regulations governing which individuals can be eligible for nominations.
Some of the provisions, however, do bear revisiting, and we would urge the government to give them serious thought before promulgation of the ordinance.
We feel that the provision for 'no' vote is a good idea in principle but the 50 percent threshold is too high to be effective. The cancellation provision should be triggered if the 'no' vote option garners more votes than the highest vote-getter.
In addition, we note with regret the absence of any recall provision which we feel the authority should consider. We feel that there should be some kind of mechanism by which an elected official can be removed by the voters for misconduct or if he or she loses the confidence of the electorate.
Finally, we feel strongly that the consequences for violating election expense regulations are not severe enough to be effective. Merely levying a fine of 10 lakhs is neither here nor there. Somebody spending Tk 2 to 3 crore for an election will find it quite easy to pay fine of Tk 10 lakh. Those that violate these rules should have their nominations cancelled, and if elected, their election nullified.
Overall, we think that the ordinance is a good step forward in developing a set of rules to strengthen the democratic process where there was virtually none. Many of the provisions are salutary and long overdue. However, a number of the provisions appear to us to be misguided or not thought through sufficiently, and we urge further consideration before the enactment of such a critical ordinance.
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