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PAFFREL opposes taking Parliament vote on new President

15 Jul 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Emphasising that the President and the Prime Minister of a future interim Government should be elected with the consent of all political parties, the polls monitor, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has requested all political party leaders and MPs, to therefore, not hold a Parliament vote for the same, for any reason. The PAFFREL has sent a letter to all political party leaders and MPs regarding the measures to be taken in the face of the prevailing political crisis in the country. the letter dated yesterday (14), PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi has stated that there are MPs who have not yet understood the economic, political, and social instability in the country, and the irrevocable responsibility of political party leaders and MPs to change that situation. Therefore, Hettiarachchi has mentioned a number of matters that party leaders and MPs should pay attention to when choosing the President and the Prime Minister of a future interim Government. He said that in the selection of the President and the Prime Minister of an interim Government, it should be done in agreement with all the political parties, adding that there should be no vote taken for this purpose for any reason. He also stated that the numerical majority of the respective political parties in Parliament should not be the only factor that is considered when appointing the President anIn d the Prime Minister. “It is very important for party leaders and MPs to refrain from doing activities and expressing opinions that cause any division or disagreement between the political parties. They should make sure that the country and the people are prioritised, especially leaving aside personal agendas, political agendas, and narrow party- and power-based agendas,” the letter read. Hettiarachchi has also mentioned that it should be made sure that at least one person from all the parties represented in Parliament is included in the process of the selection of the next Cabinet of Ministers, adding that in selecting the Cabinet, those who can make a positive contribution to solving the prevailing economic, social, and political crises and managing international situations should be selected, if they are not opposed by the people. Furthermore, they have asked the party leaders and MPs to refrain from refusing positions if they are invited to take up the posts of the President, the Prime Minister, or a Cabinet Minister in a future interim Government, adding that the party leaders and MPs should not take decisions at this difficult time targeting the upcoming elections. “If we all don’t work together at this moment, no one will be able to prevent the politicians, and us, the citizens, from being drawn towards destruction. Whoever would lead the Government in the future will have to make unpopular decisions and although we citizens are not directly responsible for this disaster, the citizens will also have to make great sacrifices, if we don’t work to resolve this crisis,” he added.  


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