Disagreement At Lower House

–As Some Lawmakers Reportedly Draft Resolution To Postpone Impending Elections

Report reaching this online platform of the New Republic Newspaper says disagreement has reportedly ensued among members of the House of Representatives over reported plan to change the impending elections’ dates, (2020 Senatorial elections and 2023 presidential elections in the country.
According to our sources close to that august body, some pro members of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are reportedly soliciting signatures for a resolution that will be forwarded to the Liberian Senate for concurrence to the effect.
However, eleven members of the House of Representatives who are from the opposition bloc are said to be vehemently resisting the purported plan. They said if this is done, it will be an abrogation of the 1986 Constitution and will be met with stiff resistance from the Liberian people.
If this reported resolution is passed, it will intentionally push 2020 senatorial elections from October 13, 2020 to January 2021 and to extend the 2023 presidential elections to 2024.
An opposition representative who begged not to be named confirmed the planned action and pointed fingers at pro lawmakers been the brains.
He further warned against particularly postponing the 2023 general elections without justifiable reasons.
The coronavirus currently ravaging the world is said to be their reliance for such decision.
“What I heard from them saying as reason for the action is, no one knows when the Covid-19 will end , and I have responded saying, if that is the case, do you also know whether or not the virus will be here up to 2021- 2022?”
“We have consistently warned against abrogating the law. Constitutionally, the President will address the full legislature to deliver his annual message January 2021 and by October of this year, 15 Senators’ tenure will be expired. if we as government don’t conduct the pending special elections before January 2021- automatically, the government will break down because there would be no quorum for the senate to do business,” a lawmaker said during an interaction with this paper.
He said if that happens; there will be constitutional calamity and political brawl which, he said the government will not have the strength to contain here.
On Ok FM 99.5MHz:
There were mix-reactions when the issue surrounding the reported resolution was discussed on a local radio station (Ok FM) on Monday May 18, 2020.
For his part, Liberty Party Assistant Secretary, Daniel Sando responding said that will be expensive joke that the Liberian leader would not want to venture into.
“If President Weah stays in office one day beyond his constitutional date given him by the constitution, he will get what he is looking for,” he said.
Mr. Sando reminded the Liberian leader to not venture into vices that have the proclivity to drop Liberia into conflict.
It can be recalled on May 12, 2020, barely a week now after the National Elections Commission (NEC) wrote the Liberian leader for the extension of the pending special senatorial elections, President Weah has written the legislature to endorse the NEC’s request.
The president in his communication addressed to House Speaker, Bhofal Chambers, asked members of that body to extend the pending ensuing 2020 senatorial election and referendum from October 13, to December 15, 2020 as was also indicated by NEC in a letter transmitted to the Liberian leader.
In the president’s letter dated Tuesday, May 12, 2020 and read in open plenary session, President Weah quoted NEC as saying, “The October 13 Special Senatorial elections scheduled is not feasible and this is because major preparatory activities, such as the voter registration update [VRU], International Procurement for the VRU, Recruitment and Training of the Temporary Staff, have not been completed due to Covid-19 pandemic”.
The president’s communication further pointed out that flights have been grounded, borders closed, countries are experiencing lockdown coupled with the restriction of movements, large gatherings and other activities, which have been imposed to contain the virus.
The communication was forwarded to the House’s Committees on elections committee, Judiciary and Health Committee to review the President’s communication report this week.