Governors to be elected from local council members
Elected by the general public or elected by the local councils? There’s a big difference.
Considering how very successful the recent elections were, there’s no reason the governors shouldn’t be directly elected. If they are elected by the GPC dominated local councils, it’s nearly the same as being appointed.
Update: the elected councils will elect the governors. Well, its a step in the right direction.
SANA’A, Oct. 06 (Saba)-President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Friday that
the governors and directors of districts will be elected.Speaking to attendants in Afta banquet held in presidential palace, president
Saleh said that a committee was formed to draw timetable and plans to
carry our hi electoral program.The plans and timetable will be announced soon, he said.
He said that a new page will be opened with Joint Meeting Parties in particular
and opposition parties in general.He called on all to gather efforts to build the nation and enhance freedom
and democracy that realize security and stability as well as comprehensive
development.He said that he has asked the government to make amendment on law of local
authority to elect governors and director of districts.“We will make an end for centralization and strengthen decentralization,”
he said.He made it clear that the governors and directors of districts will be
elected directly from members of the local councils.He announced that any official would not stay more than four years in
his position, saying that a law will be issued over setting up independent
body for combating corruption.In his speech, president welcomed local and foreign investments in the
country.“We will offer all facilities to investors to create jobs for jobless
people,” he said.He concluded by congratulated people and attendants on holy month of Ramadan.
“Tonight, I’m announcing a great surprise for our citizens in implementing the president’s electoral platform and that is to elect governors, district heads and local council secretaries-general via local authority members who are elected by the people,” Saleh said.
He added that financial and administrative decentralization will replace the current centralization system, wherein the local authority is authorized with all powers and authority.
Secondly, he announced rotating public employment positions so that “no government official’s stay will exceed four years in any state institution.”
Affirming his fight against corruption, Saleh stated that an independent national committee will fight corruption and corrupt individuals. Another independent committee regarding tenders and bidding also will be established, he added.
Lastly, Saleh asserted that a new page will be opened with opposition and the JMP. “Although JMP election address was characterized in a manner of upheaval under the umbrella of democracy, we’ll brush that aside and start a new page with them and with opposition parties in general, even those that called for a public coup. We’ll do this because our homeland is more precious than any one individual or group,” he noted.
Saleh renewed his call for all parties to unite their efforts without exception “We hope opposition will heed this call. If opposition parties had won the majority of local council seats, I don’t think they’d show such clemency and draw the curtain on previous events. Instead, they’d settle an account with us,” he asserted.
Yemen is one of the world’s poorest nations, with a population of more than 20 million. Rampant corruption in all state institutions affects citizens’ lives as well as the nation’s development.
In most speeches and interviews, Saleh speaks much about corruption and ways to curb it; and he particularly stressed the issue throughout his election campaign. His electoral platform enhances efforts to reduce unemployment and combat poverty and corruption, which is a consistent aim and an ongoing effort.
