A New Presidential Period &  New Hopes for Yemen [Archives:1999/36/Law & Diplomacy]

Ayman Mohammed Nasser 
Editor in Chief, 
Attariq Newspaper 
The presidential elections represent an important constitutional right of the people to elect their president directly. It gives the incoming president the peoples’ vote to empower him, to begin necessary changes to our political, economic and social life. We believe that in the next presidential term the people will expect, in fact, demand a real change, in method and substance in our government. Younger leadership should be given a chance. The corrupt officials should be removed. A more effective and efficient government is expected. 
Democracy, free press, and transfer should develop to monitor the performance of government. Eighteen months after the presidential elections come, the parliamentary and local elections should add to the entrenchment of the democratic process. 
The different political parties, including the opposition, should develop their structures, plans and decisions to prepare for these developments. 
Most promises made during the elections often face difficulty in application, due to faulty mechanisms or failure of process of application. 
I believe that it is important first, to place the right mechanism, which is principally the strict application of law equally on all. In addition, the appointment of the right persons to the right jobs; depending on honesty, ability and good public image is of vital importance. 
There are different opposition parties with different visions. Some are in agreement with the PGC, (the ruling party) at least most of the time. However, the natural thing is for political parties to compete with each other for peoples’ recognition and trust, and hence, votes. 
Therefore, we see that the opposition parties of the coordination council have made the wrong decision in ‘abstaining’ from the presidential election. They have added insult to injury by calling on the president to abolish the elections. These elections are the right of the people by the constitution and their political parties have proven that they give no credence to the constitution. 
The people should be encouraged to uphold the constitution and bring change only through the constitutional process. The reasons for the call of boycotting the elections is not convincing. The process of nomination in parliament has gone according to the constitution and law. 
It is what they have suggested, that they will obtain the people’s nomination that has no legal or constitutional basis. It will only confuse people’s attitude towards law and order. 
Political party leaders should understand the responsibility towards their followers and become accountable to them and should not mislead them to disappointments and failures because of lack of vision and planning for the long-term. 
What some political parties demand is that candidates get public nomination, instead of parliament nomination and to only serve parties outside of parliament. Also, it is impractical and more difficult than the current requisite. 
Perhaps, more logically, they should seek that each member of parliament should be able to nominate two candidates, instead of one. This should widen the scope of the candidates for president.
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