Snap Elections under ‘active consideration’ – PPP
By Tracey Khan – Drakes
General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, PPP/C, Clement Rohee has hinted at the possibility of snap elections before there is a debate on the ‘No – Confidence’ motion by the combined political Opposition.
Rohee told a news conference on Monday, August 11 that calling a date for general elections is ‘under active consideration’ by the PPP.
He explained that this will be determined by a number of political and other factors, however, he was reluctant to divulge further.
“We would prefer to hold that card close to our chest….it remains an active option under consideration,” the General Secretary said.
He noted that the only two options which are constitutionally available for the holding of snap elections is for the “ruling party to determine a date for elections, the other is for the Opposition by way of a no confidence motion to bring down the government; those two options are still valid and I think that either of the two could play out in the near future. We already have seen one of those options prevailing which is the no confidence motion to bring down the government, what is left with us now is the other option and we have that card in our hands that we can put on the table at any given time.”
The Central Executive Committee of the Party met last week in light of the Alliance for Change’s (AFC) No Confidence motion that was submitted to Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.
“High on the agenda of the meeting was the strengthening of the party’s electoral machinery and ensuring that both the NRR-that’s the National register of registrants and the Preliminary list of electors are thoroughly checked by party activists on the ground to ensure that includes all eligible voters and at the same time ensuring that there is no padding of the list by the inclusion of names that fail to meet the eligibility criteria.”
A possible coalition between the two opposition political parties is another card that the Party is holding close and will use it when necessary, Rohee said.
“Not because we have any fears. It’s all a question of timing, all a question of tactics…..any political alliance between these rather strange bed fellows would be of great interest to the electorate, they will have to determine whether it would be to their detriment or to their advantage politically, we have our own views in that.”
The Party remains upbeat about its chance at the next elections.
