National Assembly - ‘Walk-out was a result of abuse of procedure,’ says LGB |12 April 2018
The leader of government business (LGB) in the National Assembly, Charles De Comarmond, has clarified that Parti Lepep (PL) did not walk out because the opposition chose not to approve their motion but rather because of abuse of procedure.
Mr De Comarmond made this clarification during a press briefing with media houses yesterday following the LDS’ (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) opposition to the nomination of three ministers and which culminated into a walk-out by PL members (refer to lead story on front page).
He explained that since its inauguration the 6th National Assembly had established standards of procedures and precedence for the nomination of ministers which had been duly observed in four other instances prior to yesterday.
“The National Assembly had done these before and there have been cases where the ministerial nominations have been accepted and others where they have not,” Mr De Comarmond stated.
“Our members simply wanted these procedures to be followed to the letter so as to provide the three competent candidates with the opportunity to interact with the House and voice out their capabilities to the public.”
Mr De Comarmond added that the debate on the motions had not been exhausted especially since only three members -- notably himself, Wavel Ramkalawan and Sebastien Pillay -- had been able to address the floor.
Various other members on his side had wanted to add to the deliberations, Mr De Comarmond continued, and the fact that the majority party in the National Assembly wanted to close the debate was unfair.
“In a chamber of 33 members only 3 speak and then they decide to close the debate just because they do not approve of the nominations? That is wrong and is an abuse on the members’ right to express their opinions under Article 102 (1) of the Constitution.”
Article 102 (1) states: “There shall be freedom of speech and debate in the National Assembly and a member shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of any court or to any proceedings whatsoever, other than in proceedings in the Assembly, when exercising those freedoms or performing the functions of a member in the Assembly.”
Mr De Comarmond added that members of the parliament could not pick and choose when and where to apply certain procedures: “The MNAs could have voted in whatever way they wanted to but the fact of the matter is they should have first allowed for due process. There was no sense staying in the Chamber if the due process were being ignored.”
Meanwhile it is expected to be business as usual at the National Assembly during today’s FPAC meeting since Mr De Comarmond affirmed that the walk-out is not a boycott.
“If the other side keeps insisting on blocking nominations for new ministers they would be hindering the executive from functioning properly. Moreover if there are ministers who want to leave for whatever reasons they will then be forced to stay in their posts and that is not acceptable,” Mr De Comarmond concluded.