NM’s 117th birthday: Abolishing the Executive Presidency never more topical

 Dr. N.M. Perera

Every time the issues of the Govt Presidency floor, we’re reminded of how NM had predicted them. Now, when the nation has been introduced to close destroy by it, allow us to abolish the Govt Presidency as soon as and for all

On 6 June, we keep in mind Dr. N.M. Perera, Chief of the Lanka Sama Samaja Get together, parliamentarian par excellence, Chief of the Opposition, and Minister of Finance, on his 117th birthday. 

Hardly every week passes with out references to analyses and predictions made by NM and his comrade and buddy, Dr. Colvin R. De Silva. Professor Harold Laski, NM’s guru on the London College of Economics, thought that NM would make a wonderful Chancellor of the Exchequer, whereas Sir Ivor Jennings mentioned that he can be a wonderful Labour Prime Minister. Ajit Samaranayaka described NM as “the perfect Prime Minister Sri Lanka by no means had”. 

To the folks of Thun Korale, he was “parippu mahattaya” who, along with his colleagues of the LSSP, saved lots of of lives of the poor in the course of the malaria plague by distributing drugs and important meals gadgets. A path that NM and his comrades cleared to entry a distant malaria-stricken village within the current Panaakura Grama Niladhari division in Deraniyagala remains to be known as “malaria para”. For us who grew up within the Sama Samaja motion, he was “NM sahodaraya”.

NM and Parliament

As we rejoice NM’s life on his birthday, the massive majority of the folks demand that the presidential system of presidency be utterly abolished. It was NM who made probably the most penetrating evaluation of the 1978 Structure, which just about entrenched the Govt Presidency. This was by the use of a collection of articles he wrote to the ‘Socialist Nation’, later revealed as a booklet, ‘A Important Evaluation of the 1978 Structure of Sri Lanka’, which has turn into the Bible for individuals who want a return to a parliamentary type of authorities. Justice can’t be performed to NM by briefly summarising his writings on the topic. As a substitute, readers are inspired to learn and re-read them. 

NM was unhesitatingly for a parliamentary type of authorities, not stunning provided that he was one among Sri Lanka’s best-known parliamentarians who was awarded a DSc diploma by the College of London for his comparative research of the parliamentary procedures of the UK, United States, France and Germany. He identified that the parliamentary type of authorities had labored for 30 years in Sri Lanka with a level of success that had stunned many Western observers. 

Just a few weeks earlier than the Second Modification to the 1972 Structure launched the chief presidency, NM wrote: “We glance in useless within the speeches of [Prime Minister J.R. Jayewardene] for a transparent and concise enumeration of the defects of the current Structure which make the wholesale rejection of the current construction fascinating. His lame competition that the current system of Authorities makes for instability and lack of continuity scarcely bears examination. He mentions the case the place Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake was compelled to resign and name for recent elections in July 1960, after his defeat on the Throne Speech following the March elections. Equally he cites the case of Mrs. Bandaranaike, who was defeated on the Throne Speech debate in Parliament in December, 1964. 

“One would have thought that these, the one two examples he cited, strengthened the case for the current Parliamentary system. They neatly reinforce the facility of democracy. In each circumstances the elections that ensued registered a change within the complexion of the Authorities that existed. Absolutely, it’s in essential moments like this that the true price of democracy is manifested. Judged by any requirements, the examples he cities solely show that the current Parliamentary system has been examined and located not wanting.”

Individuals are for abolition

If there have been sceptics in regards to the desirability of the abolition of the Presidential type of authorities, the conduct of Presidents Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa has helped assuage their fears. Performing by means of a Presidential Job Pressure, President Sirisena banned the pesticide Glyphosate with devastating outcomes for agriculture, particularly the tea business. He acted not on the recommendation of scientists however of a politician monk. The unilateral choice by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to utterly ban agrochemicals as a part of his formidable program to make Sri Lanka the primary nation with 100% natural agriculture, once more egged by the identical monk and a commerce unionist physician, ended up in catastrophe. The mishandling of the economic system below his watch has left the nation in shambles. 

A survey carried out by the Centre for Coverage Alternate options (CPA) in October-November 2021 revealed that simply over half (50.3%) of these interviewed had been of the opinion that extra powers must be given to the Parliament by lowering the powers of the President. One-fourth of the respondents thought that extra powers must be given to the President. When a survey was carried out simply six months later, in April 2022, 74% of the respondents opined that the Govt Presidency must be abolished. It’s vital that amongst Sinhala respondents, the determine was 74.2%, greater than the nationwide share. Thanks particularly to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, folks have now turn into wiser.

It’s apt to cite from a latest assertion of the United Left Entrance: “If anybody had reservations about abolition, latest occasions that led to an financial and agricultural disaster unprecedented in Sri Lankan historical past and the breakdown of legislation and order ought to persuade them that such crises might have been averted if there was collective decision-making by means of the Parliamentary course of slightly than unilateral selections being taken by a President.”

Nonetheless, there are a lot of who’re fixated on the Govt Presidency. Excessive nationalists consider that it ensures Sinhala Buddhist dominance. Added to them are those that dream of turning into President and their cohorts.

Provincial Councils and abolition

Provincial Councils have come to remain in Sri Lanka, and a number of other political events that opposed devolution have now accepted that they can’t be abolished. Some opponents of abolition argue that there should be a President with govt powers to cope with potential secessionist tendencies. The very best instance of how a Parliamentary authorities might efficiently cope with separatist and different extremist actions is India. To assuage fears {that a} Provincial Council would possibly use its powers to maneuver in direction of secession, the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Meeting of the final Parliament proposed that the Centre must be constitutionally empowered to intervene in a province in case there’s a clear and current hazard to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic. 

The proposal was for the President, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, to imagine to the President all or any of the capabilities of the administration of the Province and all or any of the powers vested in, or exercisable by, the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Board of Ministers or any physique or authority within the Province and even take the last word step of dissolving the Provincial Council. The author would go additional to suggest that the President be empowered to intervene after session with the Prime Minister, as an alternative of on the recommendation of the latter, as an exception to the rule in a Parliamentary type of authorities. Such intervention must be accredited by Parliament, as is the case of a proclamation of emergency.

It has additionally been argued that the Govt Presidency is important for nationwide safety. Fairly aside from nationwide safety, the nation noticed President Rajapaksa being unable even to take care of public order on 9 Could and thereafter. His clear directives to the Police to not permit goons to enter Galle Face to assault protestors had been countermanded by some unknown drive. His personal cousin ridiculed him for being unable to stop the memorial to his dad and mom from being vandalised. 

Absurd arguments

Probably the most absurd arguments in opposition to a Parliamentary type of authorities is that an individual who will not be immediately elected might turn into the Prime Minister and thus wield govt energy. Whether or not elected from a district or by means of the nationwide record, the Prime Minister should command a majority in Parliament; in any other case, he goes residence regardless of whether or not there’s a “PM Go Residence” marketing campaign outdoors. Alternatively, the impeachment of a President is nearly unattainable, as NM prophesied and the tried impeachment of President Premadasa confirmed. 

There have been many cases of politicians turning into head of presidency with out being immediately elected. Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike served her first time period as Prime Minister whereas being a nominated member of the Senate. Indira Gandhi’s first time period was as Prime Minister was whereas being a member of the Rajya Sabha. Premiers I.Ok. Gujral, Dev Gowda and Manmohan Singh had been Rajya Sabha members. Manmohan Singh held workplace for 10 years, all whereas being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, with which he had no connection. 

In Germany, Gerhard Schroder opted to not contest a constituency however was Chancellor for seven years, having been elected by means of the celebration record. The essential factor is that they may have served solely so long as they commanded a majority. Madam Bandaranaike misplaced her majority in December 1964 and needed to name recent elections at which she was elected however couldn’t turn into Prime Minister.

Political stability

One other argument in opposition to abolition is that the Govt Presidency ensures political stability whereas a Parliament is likely to be unstable. The previous couple of months have proven how even with a President elected with a transparent majority, adopted by a two-third majority in Parliament and strengthened by the elimination of all restrictions imposed by the nineteenth Modification, the nation turned unstable. 

Some say that electoral reform that results in a steady authorities is crucial if we’re to have a Parliamentary authorities. If the voters is fractured, no single celebration will get a working majority. A Parliament displays the fact of divided opinion. Why have an electoral system that distorts public opinion? The current mess would have been worse if the SLPP had an absolute majority with out its coalition allies. We reside in an period of coalitions; all governments since 1994 have been coalitions. 

The author will not be against a small variety of seats being given as bonus seats to the celebration or coalition that kinds the federal government. The bonus seat on the district degree has not served its said goal of guaranteeing stability because the bonus seats get distributed amongst events that win the districts. Nevertheless, the variety of bonus seats should not be too giant to distort the ultimate end result. The Soulbury Structure offered for six nominated members. A brand new electoral system shouldn’t be a “nokerena vedakama” or an unattainable pre-condition as an excuse to proceed with the Presidential type of authorities which has miserably failed. 

Every time the issues of the Govt Presidency floor, we’re reminded of how NM had predicted them. Now, when the nation has been introduced to close destroy by it, allow us to abolish the Govt Presidency as soon as and for all. 

(The author is a member of the Politburo of the United Left Entrance.)