Sierra Leone President calls for dialogue after divisive polls
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio at the official opening of the new National Assembly called for “unity” and “dialogue” to overcome deep divisions over the June 24 disputed elections.
“In this Parliament where no party has reached a two-thirds majority, the need for dialogue and negotiation resounds with the utmost urgency. We must find common ground across political divides,” said president re-elect.
The opposition All People’s Congress Party (APC) decided on its non-participation at any level of governance, including the legislature and local councils, judging the results of the presidential, legislative and local elections ” rigged” for the benefit of President Bio and his party.
Only one of the 54 opposition deputies was in the hemicycle on Thursday morning
With its 81 seats, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) only has a majority of 54% of the vote, e ven with the expected support of the 14 traditional chiefs sitting in parliament, it would fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass certain types of legislation, such as constitutional amendments or electing the speaker of parliament.
But it is not certain that members of the APC who have not taken the oath are taken into account in these cases.
President Bio assured that MPs should seek “to put the interest of the nation first, transcend partisan lines and forge alliances beyond political affiliations.”
In addition to “statistical inconsistencies”, international observers condemned the “lack of transparency” in the vote count after the June elections.
He announced the creation of a committee comprising members of government, civil society and development agencies to review the management of the electoral process and make recommendations.
Africanews /Jane I. Aluko
