GPC Starts Preparation for Upcoming Elections

In a meeting that involved its high electoral committee led by Abdul Qader Bajamal, the ruling party – the General People Congress (GPC) started early setting its initial plans in preparation for the upcoming parliamentarian elections due to be conducted in 2009.

Sources indicated that the meeting came in implementation of the party's general committee resolutions taken on last Monday's meeting, headed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The meeting discussed the mechanism for setting an initial vision for selecting the GPC candidates for 2009 parliamentary elections as well as setting the plans for the elections.

This move by GPC comes amidst wide debates and controversies with opposition parties over the formation of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER).

Meanwhile, the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) called on Yemen to hasten forming the SCER during March, and indicated that forming the commission through judges will be unpractical.

IFES Chief of Party in Yemen, Peter Williams told official media that the heated political atmosphere witnessed in the country nowadays does not serve the forthcoming parliamentarian elections due to be conducted on April 2009, calling on political parties to submit their reform programs and to exert efforts for winning the votes of citizens instead of hurling accusations to others.

Early November, Yemeni government presented a law draft to parliament to amend the elections law and it dictates forming the SCER through seven judges from among 15 selected by parliament.

For five months, the political parties have not reached an agreement over the formation of the SCER to replace the former commission whose legality came to an end by November 17, though opposition parties and GPC signed earlier an agreement of principles which state forming the SCER from judges with adding other two members to the commission.

Williams sees that giving up the former commission members is unpractical especially when its members has had wide experience in electoral work, noting this will deprive the commission of its head and end all former expertise.

Meanwhile, opposition parties represented in Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) tend to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections; however, some observers stress these parties will participate under a deal to be signed with the ruling party.

The JMP which comprises Islah Islamist Party, Ba'ath Party, Yemeni Socialist Party, and Nasserite Unionist Party had coalition in the former parliamentary elections conducted in 2003; but they managed just to win one third of seat and Islah topped the list in the capital as it won nine constituencies out of 11, mostly preachers.

In return, JPC dominates the parliament with 220 out of 301 seats and it managed over the last local elections to get overwhelming majority of seats in all provinces and districts.