Although lauded for ending a three-month post-election stand off, some Sierra Leoneans have castigated the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) for returning to a parliament that is still undemocratic.
The main argument in the public domain holds that the previous parliament is one that has been considerably undermined by the passage of draconian laws that snub democratic principles, and that nothing different could be done this time.
The Public Elections Act, the Political Parties Regulation Commission and the Proportional Representation laws are clear example of bad legislations aimed at protecting the political existence of President Julius Maada Bio.
The enactment of bad laws accumulates in a tide of evil with the voters at the wrong end especially when there is no guarantee that government will stop lording it over them.
The people of Sierra Leone anticipate more bad laws in the current parliament as Bio looks forward to ending his second and final term.
The Fifth or the previous Parliament was also largely considered as one that has violated the sacred values of Parliament by parachuting armed guards into the well to drive away APC reps.
Speaker of Parliament, Dr Chernor Abass Bundu is on record to have presided over the passage of a barrage of laws which favour the ‘PAOPA’ regime.
Many Sierra Leoneans consider the proportional representation system as a chief contributor to the current stand off since smaller opposition political parties are tactically booted out by setting a record percentage for a parliamentary seat.
The law in question states that a political party must win 11.9 per cent of the votes to qualify for a seat.
The 2021 Mid-Term Census is also another bad precedent set by parliament since it approved the law despite the doom and gloom that hangs over it.
The head count was abhorred by observers in the media and the public as well as political stakeholders arguing that it is premature.
Sierra Leone has never seen a mid-term census as the process is conducted every 10 years.
Today’s conflicts, they say, owe it to the bad laws as a bad law is a law until repealed and replaced with a good law.
For the past five years, law makers have bestowed more powers on the executive arm especially the president, a situation that nurtures despotism and tyranny.
The two sides were affected by the PR system as they were not re-elected but selected for a second term in Parliament.
What is more disturbing was, most of the SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) parliamentarians who physically assaulted APC (All People’s Congress)’s law makers when the PR bill was laid in the Well of Parliament were greatly affected and voted out by their constituents.
Those from the opposition who resisted the passage of the bill into law were also similarly affected.
Some were voted out by their constituents while others were booted out by their political party leaders.
The new parliamentarians are new breed suffice it to say they are not au fait with parliamentary procedures and protocols.
Other parliamentarians said most of the Bills passed in the House of Representatives speak directly to what the ruling party intends, as usual, to enact controversial laws by ambush.
Parliamentary visitors informed Nightwatch that during the previous Parliament, they witnessed a situation in which bills were passed into law and constitutional amendments effected without regard to the two-third majority which is compulsory for such actions.
The argument continues that in the previous Parliament, even if all 58 former SLPP members of parliament, the 8 from Coalition for Change, 4 from National Grand Coalition, 3 Independents and the 14 Paramount Chiefs were to vote in favour, it would still not amount to two-third.
A big question lingers in the face of such parliamentary configuration.
Is the sixth Parliament going to allow this to happen again where bills and constitutional amendments are effected without adhering to constitutional procedures? The public for an answer.
The current Parliament, Sierra Leoneans say, will not carry out Constitutional amendments unless they pass special stringent procedures supported by parliamentary leadership.
The ruling and the opposition parties agreed to changes after lengthy consultation.
Citizens are also of the view that the sixth parliament will also become undemocratic especially when the ruling party almost have two-third majority.
However, a popular holds that the current Parliament will be worse in enacting laws and approving agreements and contracts than the previous since, all things remain equal, Bio will not go again for another term.