Verify candidates

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Verify candidates

Published: 16 Mar. 2008, 23:37

Both ruling and opposition parties will start nominating candidates for election under the proportional representation system. This system fills the 54 seats in the National Assembly. The Grand National Party will have 27 seats if the party wins more than 50 percent of the votes in the general election in April. Those representing a district will have to win in the general election to secure a seat in the National Assembly. Their candidacy can therefore be verified through reciprocal attacks during the campaign. In contrast, those who will become legislators through the proportional representation system simply have to be selected by the nomination committee. Therefore, each party should select their candidates based on strict verification and rational standards.
The proportional representation system is aimed at selecting necessary lawmakers who would have difficulty being elected. Each party should use the system to select legislators who could complement what they lack. Why doesn’t the Grand National Party nominate people with a proven record, passion, representation and expertise in lawmaking for common and marginalized people? For example, for gender issues, instead of selecting boisterous feminists who are more concerned with power and courageous fights, they should select underexposed experts who can propose novel and realistic measures. The United Democratic Party could find new experts and owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises to give their party pragmatism, instead of people interested in old ideological struggles.
According to some sources, there’s talk that both the ruling and opposition parties can consider those who have not been nominated for the general election as candidates for proportional representation. If they were barred from running for the general election, there were legitimate reasons, the parties say. So, wouldn’t allowing them to run for proportional representation only undermine the legitimacy of the nomination committees? And why consider some and not others? The system established to supplement the legislative body should not be used as convenient tools for power politics. Both parties should take heed of the recent cabinet personnel turmoil and strictly verify the candidates in advance. They should accurately verify whether candidates have any history of illegal activities such as real estate speculation, false residence registration, weak military service, tax evasion and plagiarism. For an important public position such as a lawmaker, free and illegal rides are unacceptable.