The Federal Parliament of Somali will hold a session tomorrow to provide MPs with an opportunity to debate electoral models for 2021 elections.
The Electoral Law passed by the Federal Parliament has hit a snag following resistance from Federal Member States in favour an electoral model in which they have a stake.
The recent Dhuusamareeb Summit for the Federal Government and Federal Member States has not resulted in a consensus on an electoral model palatable to the Somali Parliament whose Speaker opposes abrogation of the Electoral Law.
Mohammed Mursal, the Parliamentary Speaker, argued against involvement of elders in the selection of MPs. “Al-shabaab pardonned elders who had a role in the 2017 elections. The country has an electoral law than obliges us to conduct one person, one vote elections” Mursal said recently.
There are questions about the compatibility of one person, one vote elections while the 4.5 powersharing scheme remains in place. Another legal bottleneck pertains to the precedent that the possible abrogation of the Electoral Law can set.
Some Federal Member States advocate wider consultations after the origination of bills and before the Federal Parliament and the Upper House put them up for discussion.
