“A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH RESPECTS THE EXECUTIVE”

“A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH RESPECTS THE EXECUTIVE”

In his attempt at winning an absolute majority in the forthcoming National Assembly elections President Michel is falling over himself arguing his position. Mr. Michel said that he wants, “…a National Assembly which respects his government”. This should be a natural situation in a normal democracy; however, our type of democracy is not one that is normal because the Executive do not respect the independence of the Legislature. The SPPF government under Michel has enacted a law which gives the President power to make appointments within the National Assembly.

Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who is chosen and voted for by his colleagues, the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly is a direct appointment of the President. This is a direct interference in the business of the elected representatives of the people. It shows that Mr. Michel himself is not leading by example – this particular intrusion in the business of the National Assembly is both disrespectful and dictatorial; two things President Michel has recently accused the opposition of. Respect is due when earned through reciprocation. It is widely accepted that if one wants to be respected, he should himself respect others.

President Michel should not worry too much about the Opposition getting a majority in the forthcoming elections. All the laws he needs to run the government (affairs of state) and to see through his presidential mandate effectively are already in place. In the United States the Americans gave the Democrats control over the Senate recently. President Georges Bush has respected and accepted the will of the American citizens and it is business as usual for his government, a Republican Administration.

President Michel is not comfortable with the thought of having a National Assembly in which the opposition will have overall control – this is because Mr. Michel has no intention of delivering on his promises made during the presidential campaign last year, 2006. He has already broken some of these promises, one of which is the devaluation of the Seychelles rupee, which the President said he will never allow to happen.