A group of ruling party MPs has given a “strange” assurance to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga saying they would join the common opposition, led by Maithripala Sirisena, immediately after the presidential election.They have cited various difficulties in joining the government before the election – including the ‘files’ that can suddenly come out in the face of such a crossover.
However, this assurance has earned the ire of a certain section of the common opposition who claim that this assurance demonstrate nothing but the cowardliness on the part of the ruling party MPs.
However, the possibility of dissolving the Parliament within three months after the election has put a damper on their post-election crossover plans. Therefore, the group of ruling party MPs are now stuck in a “never-or-now” situation as their crossover will be of little or no value if it happens ahead of a dissolution of Parliament.
The common opposition has already decided to introduce a new voting system as one of the key priorities of the post-January 08 government – alongside the abolition of the Executive Presidency. Both tasks will be completed by the new administration within 100 days after coming to power.
The new electoral system, according to the MOU which was signed between the parties of the common opposition, will provide for the just representation of all communities and political opinions and will be a mix of the first-past-the-post system, which ensures that every electorate has its own Member of Parliament, and proportional representation.
The election will be held under the new electoral system and a new government will be formed with the members of all the parties who will be represented in the new parliament.
