22 - 28 February 2001
Issue No.522
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 22 - 28 February 2001 Issue No.522 |
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Bolstering presidential power
Yemenis voted on Tuesday in the country's first municipal elections since north and south Yemen were united in 1990. The voters were also asked to say "yes" or "no" to a number of constitutional amendments proposed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ruling General People's Congress Party (GPC).
The amendments would extend the president's term from five to seven years, and parliament's from four to six years. The GPC also proposed to establish a second chamber of parliament, the members of which would be presidential appointees, and to allow the president to dissolve parliament without first seeking approval in a referendum. Results are expected within a week, but no final date has been set.
The election campaign was marred by violence, in particular bomb attacks against headquarters of the main opposition party, the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP). In response, authorities deployed 60,000 policemen to maintain security on election day.
Over 5.6 million eligible voters were expected to choose among some 23,000 candidates -- including 120 women -- competing for more than 7,000 seats on local councils of provinces and directorates.
Speaking after casting his ballot, President Saleh told reporters: "We accept any result in the local council elections and the referendum. We respect the will of the voters and the views of those who would vote 'No' on the amendments."
The main parties competing in the elections are Saleh's GPC, the Islamic Islah Party and the YSP, which ruled south Yemen before union with the north in 1990. The main opposition group, the YSP urged a "No" vote in the referendum. They particularly criticised an amendment giving the president the power to dissolve parliament.
A number of other opposition parties also opposed the constitutional amendments, including the Unionist Popular Nasserite Party (UPNP), the Socialist Baath Party and the Popular Forces Union Party.
In an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, UPNP secretary-general Abdel-Malik Al-Mekhlafi complained that the constitutional amendments had been drafted without any kind of dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition.
"There should have been dialogue in making amendments that amount to constitutional reform, not merely a desire to amend some specific articles," Al-Mekhlafi stated.
Saleh proposed the amendments last year, saying they would help "ensure the stability of the legislative authority as well as more flexibility in presidential elections." Having ruled North Yemen for 12 years, Saleh took the helm of a united Yemen as head of a five-man appointed presidential council in 1990. His current term began in 1999.
Opposition parties have accused the government of monopolising the media and using public money to ensure the success of its candidates and proposals. They also complained that while council members would be elected, the heads of local councils would continue to be appointed by the government.
Meanwhile, a group of lawyers forming the "Authority of Defending Legitimacy" filed a lawsuit against the Supreme Election Commission (SEC). The group demanded halting both the local elections and the referendum on constitutional amendments until voter registration lists were revised and corrected. Elections went ahead despite the appeal.
According to previous court verdicts, "the current voter registers are null and void," lawyer Mohamed Al-Mekhlafi told Al-Ahram Weekly. The SEC, he said, did not revise voter registration lists in accordance with election law, thereby depriving many eligible citizens of their right to vote.
In a press conference preceding the election, SEC chairman Alawi Attas told reporters that the committee would comply with the decision of the judiciary. "We highly respect the judiciary. We will adhere to its decisions," Attas said.
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