Constitution writing process: Parties divided over who gets executive powers—PM or prez
Although the major political parties have agreed in principle to adopt a mixed model as the form of governance in the new constitution, they still differ on who will enjoy full executive powers—president or prime minister.
A meeting of the Dispute Resolution Subcommittee formed under the Constitutional Committee of the CA on Monday failed to forge agreement on the separation of powers between the president and the prime minister. All the parties have agreed to elect the president directly from the people and the prime minister from the parliament but they
differ on the separation of powers. Top leaders of the three major parties are meeting on Monday morning to discuss the issue.
The UCPN (Maoist) is insisting on the executive president stating that it would be a step forward from the Westminster model but the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML are in favour of the executive prime minister loyal to the parliament.
Maoist leaders reason that there is no meaning of electing president directly from the people, if his powers are limited to ceremonial role like in the Interim Constitution. The subcommittee decided to settle the issue after consulting leaders of the major political parties.
“Directly elected executive president is a must to ensure stability at least for five years after the election,” Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the Post on Monday.
However, NC opines that if the president enjoys executive powers, he might turn into a totalitarian ruler.
Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poduel informed that the issue would be settled after discussion at the top political level. The CC gave the subcommittee two days more to forge consensus on the separation of powers and some issues related to the judiciary on Saturday.
The task force formed under the subcommittee has prepared a list of powers to be allocated to the prime minister and the president.
Similarly, parties are yet to agree on details of the electoral system though they have agreed in principle to adopt a mixed model. The parties are yet to decide the numbers of lawmakers to be elected under the fist-past-the-post and proportional electoral systems.
Posted on: 2012-01-02 09:20
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All of them discussed the issue. The result was the same...and we have committed to continue discussions on the issue till midnight.
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