SCER Dispute Goes On and On
Cabinet refers election amendments to the parliament, JMPs reject them
Wednesday 30 July 2008 22ouWed, 30 Jul 2008 22:42:36 +0300 10 PM / Mareb PressThe Cabinet referred yesterday to the parliament a draft amendment of some articles of the law No. 13 for the year 2001 regarding the general elections and referendum in order to complete constitutional procedures.
The spokesmen of the opposition Join Meeting Parties (JMPs), Mohammed al-Qubati, confirmed the refusal of JMPs for the government’s approval for the election amendments.
“The election amendments approved and referred by the cabinet to the parliament represent only the viewpoint of ruling party. These amendments are rejected by the JMPs because they do not include the whole election system,” he said.
He added the JMPs demanded to integrally amend the election system.
“In the case, the amendments referred to the parliament they will be rejected by the JMPs’ parliamentarian block,” he added.
Al-Qubati accused the government and ruling party of avoiding implementing the agreements that ensure conducting fair and free democratic elections.
He denied holding dialogues between the JMPs and the General People’s Congress over this issue. He added there is a contact between them over other issues.
The amendment draft is mainly focusing expanding the issue of challenges and approving the right to challenges against candidates for parliamentary and local elections during the period of nomination in addition to guarantying impartiality in civil service, public property and official media during electoral campaigns.
The amendments also include approving the right to file complaints during the electoral process, enhancing the current legal texts that confirm independence and impartiality of the Election Supreme committee, organizing the security in the elections, expanding the local, international observation over the election and determining the rights and commitments of observers.
