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Strengthening the parliamentary system

Parliament as the legislative arm of government embodies an important aspect of the people's sovereignty. News that five parliamentary committees would be set up to strengthen the parliamentary system, therefore, is welcome, for, any practicable plans in this direction could only enhance popular sovereignty.

Cabinet spokesman, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, outlining the overall purpose of the proposal said that it was aimed at promoting a new political culture in the country - one that would be based on all-party cooperation in Parliament. Areas to be handled by these bodies on a cooperative basis include: good governance, ethnic harmony and national integration, the peace process and economic issues.

Confrontational, divisive politics are continuing to be a major hurdle to national progress and it is our wish that the mechanisms just outlined would help in reducing these wasting tensions. As is well known, the House of Parliament itself, with unsettling frequency, proves an arena of stormy confrontation between the major political parties.

The rowdy scenes sometimes enacted in the legislature, make even schoolchildren blush in shame. If a measure of civility is introduced to parliamentary proceedings in times of keen confrontation among the parties, much could be considered as having been achieved. This is the reason why the five committees plan should be given a try. We would at least then have constructive and reasoned debate in the House.

It could be said that the national interest justifies the initiation of this arrangement. Observed impartially, power considerations seem to be dictating the conduct of political parties in Parliament on crucial questions.

Apparently, there is no objective assessment of issues of grave importance, such as matters relating to the current peace process. Most often than not, on these questions, it seems to be a case of the Government, whichever party forms it, proposing and the opposition vehemently opposing, regardless of the merits of the issues being debated. This destructive course has played a principal role in causing prolonged delays in resolving important national problems, such as the ethnic issue and in ultimately damaging the national interest.

Therefore, every means needs to be explored to enable the major parties to work in unity on issues which have a substantial impact on the common good. We hope the proposed committees would not only promote unity of purpose among the parties in Parliament but enable useful exchanges of views to take place in an atmosphere of cordiality.

If an honest appraisal is to be made of the current national political scene, it should be admitted that the democratic political parties need each other for the purpose of good governance. Gone are the days of one party acquiring a steam-roller majority in Parliament and governing at almost will.

The proportional representation system in Parliament precludes this possibility at present. Although now a cliche, it must be recognized that we are in an era of coalition governments and broad ruling fronts. An essential condition for the constructive functioning of this system is unity of purpose on important issues, between Government and opposition. An absence of this condition would mean chronic political instability, with nothing being achieved by way of national progress.

It is time that the major parties in Parliament realised that the national interest could no longer be bartered away for fleeting political power. As we have said before, confrontational politics merely help perpetuate political instability, which would be in no one's interest.

Whereas what is required is not a hungry hankering after power but a constructive engagement between Government and opposition for the promotion of the common good.

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