MPs Debate over New Rule of CEC Composition

The Parliamentary Committee for Legal Issues discussed on April 20 draft amendments to the election code, envisaging changes in the rule of composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and lower level election administrations.

Currently there are two draft documents, one supported by the ruling National Movement Party and another proposed by the opposition Republican, New Rights and Conservative parties.

Last November, the Parliament approved, with the first hearing, a government-supported rule of composition of the election commissions, which was harshly criticized by election watchdog organizations and the opposition parties.

This draft envisages banning political party activists from comprising the Central Election Commission (CEC). According to the amendments, the CEC will be composed of seven members who are certified as election administration officials, while the district election commission will be composed of five members and the precincts nine members.

The CEC Chairman will be appointed by the President, according to the draft law; while the other six members of the CEC will be selected on a competitive basis from a list of 18 nominees. The President will submit a shortlist of 12 of the 18 nominees to the Parliament. Afterwards, the Parliament will endorse six members of the commission.

The CEC will appoint the chairmen of the district commissions, while the district commissions will appoint the chairmen of the precincts.

The opposition-supported draft amendments envisage composition of the CEC by the representatives of the political parties. According to this draft, the CEC will be composed of 16 members, of which two members will be nominated by the President, two members by the ruling National Movement Party and the opposition Republican, New Rights, Labor, Freedom, Unity and Christian-Conservative parties will have the right to nominate two members each.

But this proposal was turned down on April 20 by the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Issues, which is dominated by the members of the National Movement Party. It is anticipated that the opposition parties will try to push the draft document at the parliamentary session, but it is likely that the document will also be rejected by most of the legislators.

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