Stalled democracy

The GPC's attempt to institutionalise itself as the ruling party has hit a snag, says Nasser Arrabyee

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Yemen's emerging democracy has ground to a halt. The political parties have agreed to delay their fourth parliamentary elections from April this year to April 2011 after they failed in reaching an agreement to conduct reasonably free and fair elections.

To reform both the political and electoral systems was the justification of the delay announced by the ruling party and the four main opposition parties, the Islamists, Socialists, Nasserists and the Baath.

It seems the delay was necessary not only to do the badly needed reforms, but also to avoid possible armed conflict and violence after the political crisis between the ruling party and opposition alliance of the four parties reached its climax.

The half-solved issue of the armed rebellion in the northern province of Saada, the calls for separation in the south, and Al-Qaeda's increasing activity in between, not to mention economic problems, have made the situation even worse.

The only thing parliament was able to agree on was the request to delay the April parliamentary elections for two years. Out of the 203 MPs in the 301-seat House of Representatives who attended the emergency session last week, 200 voted for with the three remaining members abstaining.

The House then agreed on the formation of a committee of the chairmen of the parliamentary blocs of the five parties and other members to look into the request for the extension and report back to the House within two months for a final vote.

The parties said in their request they want the extension to allow the political parties and civil society organisations to participate in constitutional amendments required for development of the political and elections' systems and to form a committee for elections acceptable by all parties.

The parties reached the deadlock in August when the ruling party, the General People's Congress, (GPC), used its overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives to set up an election committee without the participation of the opposition alliance, the Joint Meeting Parties (JMPs).

The JMPs refused to recognise the committee and called for a nationwide "consultation process" instead of going to the polls. The process was intended to mobilise and educate JMPs members and supporters and bring them into the streets at the end of the day.

The ruling GPC insisted it would go ahead with April elections alone -- or rather with 14 small opposition parties loyal to it. The officials of GPC accused the JMPs of wanting to consult with rebels, secessionists, and terrorists, hinting that its members and supporters will take to the streets also, if the JMPs supporters and members did. So, the delay removed fears that both sides might meet in the streets violently rather than in the polling booths.

The big question now is: Will the parties be able to agree on necessary reforms for an honest political system and election procedure? Or they will end up calling for another delay to rescue themselves from violence in April 2011?

The delay will be the last opportunity for the JMPs to show their credibility and seriousness to achieve the reforms agreed upon for improving both the political and elections system," said Sultan Al-Barakani, assistant secretary-general of the ruling party.

"We announced in 2007 that the dialogue reached a deadlock because of the GPC and we said finding a solution is the responsibility of all. Now after this delay we should all take our responsibility," said Abdel-Wahab Al-Ansi, secretary-general of the Islamist Party Islah, the largest opposition party. "The consultation process for national dialogue is still the main thing we should do."

Yassin Said Noaman, the secretary- general of the Socialist Party, the second largest opposition party, said, "the agreement on delaying the election is open now to all political forces and civil society organisations to participate in a national dialogue about the issues of the south, and Saada issue, and the economic crisis, etc."