By Deeq Yusuf
From a practical and historical perspective, it is a no brainer to try and make a drastic change in the political system such as hastily and undemocratically switching to a Presidential system at a time even when the current constitutional process is not complete.
Also, the Federal Parliament even with backing from compliant Federal Member States, has no jurisdiction to tamper with the current constitution and overhaul the political system of governance. Such changes need a broad national consensus enlisting the views of all relevant Somali stakeholders.
The National Consultative Council (NCC) should be a forum for building national consensus and forging Federal-State cooperation on national issues. It should NOT and CANNOT act as a policy making body because it is NOT a legislative entity.
The Federal Parliament should remain the sole policy making and legislative arm of the government and should enact policies and legislation as per provisions in the provisional constitution.
The recent extra-constitutional, unilateral decisions taken by the NCC to impose a Presidential, two-party system and illegal term extensions on the Somali people are a direct threat to the constitutional order. If left unchecked, the NCC’s outright violation of the constitution can send the country down the precipice. It should be challenged and condemned in the strongest terms possible.
Also, it is clear that a Presidential system is not a suitable option for Somalia. It would just hand the political elite the tools to centralize power, and Somalia will end up with an Imperial President where the Presidency reigns Supreme rendering Parliament, the Judiciary and other arms of government toothless.
In my opinion, those touting a Presidential system are not committed to Federalism. They are essentially the anti-Federal forces and should be labeled as such. It is indeed a proven fact that presidential systems can best work in some advanced democracies like the US, where checks and balances are in place.
In a nascent democracy like Somalia with its complex clan dynamics and politics that lacks checks and balances, the hybrid Presidential/ Parliamentary system that allows for a broader power-sharing remains the only option. Even with all its current challenges, the Parliamentary system still holds a better promise for Somalia.
In fact, three-quarters of the countries in Western Europe follow a Parliamentary system of governance, a clear testament that the system works better even in advanced democracies.
With the exception of Haiti, the Caribbean is considered one of the most stable regions in the developing world. This is because these countries have embraced Parliamentary democracy as their system of governance.
Somalia should stay the course of the Parliamentary system. The system will best deliver on its benefits once the current constitution is completed and the country reverts to universal suffrage. Somalia was a thriving Parliamentary democracy during the civilian rule of the 1960s. A clear proof that such a system will always work better for Somalia.
Deeq Yusuf
Email: [email protected]
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