WHERE ARE THE THREE PILLARS OF OUR DEMOCRACY?

WHERE ARE THE THREE PILLARS OF OUR DEMOCRACY?

The Constitution of the third Republic clearly sets out the separation of powers between the three pillars of our democracy – the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. The ruling party has never respected the spirit of our Constitution despite the fact that they played a major part in its drafting. The latest evidence of this twisted state of affair is contained in the SPPF’s Party Political Broadcast (PPB). President Michel is not the Leader of the ruling party; Mr. Rene has not seen it fit to relinquish this position into his care.

Yet it is President Michel who is introducing the SPPF’s candidates in their PPBs on SBC television and on the radio. It would be a normal situation if it was Mr. Rene doing the introductions; after all, he is the party leader. Mr. Michel as the head of the Executive is using his Presidential privileges to push and lobby for a particular group of candidates taking part in the legislative elections. By doing so he is violating an important element of our democracy and the Constitution of the third Republic defeating the concept of separation of powers.

It shows beyond doubt that President Michel is not the great believer in democracy he would like the people to believe. He is in fact the Dictator he has been talking about of late. And the fact that his (President Michel’s) picture is portrayed alongside SPPF candidates on posters in the districts proves that President Michel is not the President of every Seychellois, he is a partisan President, looking after the interest of only a particular group of people. “Judge me by my actions!” These words are still ringing in our ears.