The first session of the newly formed 330-member interim parliament convened at the parliament building in Singha Durbar Monday evening. Among them 121 are nominated; 73 by the Maoists as agreed during negotiation with SPA and further 48 members that includes 10 each from NC, UML and the Maoists. 18 remaining members were filled by NC (D) which nominated 6 and remaining by smaller parties that are alliance in SPA.
It is true, more than one third of the members of the interim house are nominated by the parties and people have not elected them. What can people make out of this structure of the interim house? Although, the house is considered as an interim it has full power in the state affairs.
In democratic practice has any one come across this kind of arrangement made in any counties? At least I do not know. My lack of knowledge cannot lead to the judgment that Nepal’s present interim house is not democratic.
A democracy is the rule of the law. Rules are made by the representatives of the people. The representatives cannot be self proclaimed or nominated by some political organizations. They must be elected by the sovereign people.
Judging through the above core value of democracy one can easily make out the present house of Nepal is not up to the standard of a democracy. However, one can argue since it is an interim house and the country itself in transition: heading towards a full-fledged democracy, at least, the house is the product of a consensus which ended a bloody brutal insurgency, an armed outfit has come to the parliament and the house has both elected as well as nominated representatives. Is not this a huge achievement in obtaining democracy and maintaining its decorum?
Democracy is not a fixed set of rules and regulations. If you do such and such as mentioned in such and such books it is democracy and democratic and if you deviate you missed it. Democracy is basically the government of the people by the people and for the people. The simple Lincoln’s definition of democracy incorporates a lot of flexibility while maintaining basic principles.
Although Nepal’s arrangement for creation of the interim house seems odd to the democratic practice, it can give a final out put which will be the safe landing of Nepal to democracy respecting human rights, freedom and liberty for all.
Thanks to all people who have worked really hard to make the political conversion possible. It was a landmark moment when the Maoist MPs (all nominated) entered the parliament building along with the sitting MPs, who were members of the dissolved House of Representatives and National Assembly, (HoR) and some other nominated new faces.
The MPs of different parties could be seen greeting each other as the meeting started at around 9:00 pm. Most of the Maoist MPs were seen in grey coats while those from Terai region were clad in their traditional Dhoti and Kurta.
Nepali Congress MP Bal Bahadur Rai, the most senior parliamentarian, chaired the opening session of the interim parliament. Rai took the oath of the chair of the session and administered collective oath of office and secrecy to the MPs.
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