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Liberia: Stakeholders Call For Political Reforms
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The Analyst (Monrovia)
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
At the end of a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening the political party system in Liberia, stakeholders have made several recommendations, calling for political reform and a national conference on the future of Liberia.
The Chairman of the Governance Reform Commission, Dr. Amos Sawyer is among several Liberians stressing the need for national conference to look at the future of Liberia.
Many believe that Liberia is far away from attacking most of the problems believed that propelled the 15 years of fratricidal conflict that left many dead and the country completely battered.
Over 100 persons representing political parties and civil society organizations have committed themselves to establishing strong and function organizations at all levels.
Among several things, the political parties and the civil society representatives who participated in the two-day workshop are calling for funding from national government for parties or coalition that obtains ten percent in the national Legislature.
In a resolution drawn out at the end of the workshop, the political parties and the civil society group also called for political parties to maintain one thousand members in all fifteen counties.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to the resolution to the National Elections Commission (NEC) and OSIWA conference which dealt with the critical constitutional issue of fifty percent plus one vote to be declared winner and the form of absolute majority in national and legislative elections in Liberia.
The political parties and civil society groups wants a stronger women support and participation with a minimum representation of thirty percent both within national government levels.
The two days meeting which took place on main campus of the University of Liberia, was organized by the American group, International Republic Institute (IRI) with funding from USAID in collaboration with UNMIL.
Besides other issues, other participants called for political parties and civil society groups to take a critical review in keeping with the resolution from the just ended conference, to do self criticism and carry out internal reforms of their activities with the view of preparing for the proposed national conference on the future of Liberia.
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Others say if political parties are to get public funds, then the national Elections Commission (NEC) must not only serve as a referee but to make political parties active by enforcing elections laws and by evaluating and monitoring party managements.
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