Parliamentarians who attended the panel discussion on “Promoting Electoral Integrity: Role of Political Parties” in Colombo on Wednesday (June 12) said money and political patronage seriously affect electoral integrity because politicians very quickly learn that they can buy votes.
When that happens, there is no electoral integrity. They said that is why electoral integrity is a very important aspect for all political parties to uphold. There are broad checks and balances that can be put in place to hold the representatives accountable. The common allegation against politicians is corruption and there is no robust party structure to deal with this.
SLPP Parliamentarian Prof. Ranjith Bandara said unfortunately there is no universally accepted definition for electoral integrity. “We are known for democratically elected Governments since 1947. But are we really following electoral integrity? Even though the politicians talk about electoral integrity, are they really ready to adhere to electoral integrity? It is not something that happens in isolation. This has nothing to do with the poorly defined policies. We have an independent Election Commission and various other institutions to support elections and have democratically elected Governments. We are not really ready for democracy and that is an issue.”
Electoral integrity
Prof. Bandara said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as a party, is committed to promoting electoral integrity. Being the youngest political party in the country, we have faced three elections. “We are getting closer to a Presidential Election or a General Election. Whatever the election, we have to work with new policies and a framework developed over the past 10-15 years. I remember how many incidents took place after the 1977 elections”.
SJB Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva said elections must be held on time. “Trying to find excuses saying we cannot hold elections as we do not have money goes against the concept of electoral integrity. If somebody finds a loophole in the Constitution and, perhaps, tries to extend his/her term, it also violates electoral integrity. If there is proper democracy, we must first have elections at the right time. I am not trying to specify any political party, many parties have done that.
Accountability is the other important aspect. After the date of the election is decided, those who plan and conduct the election must be accountable to the people. They must say we did what we have to do within the law and we did not break the law, not just during the campaign but prior to it as well. The people must accept election results”.
“When you look at the past, there were instances where houses were burnt, establishments were destroyed and people were murdered. Parties must be able to accept victory or defeat. Another important aspect is legitimacy. We have a President and the Constitution provides him with almost absolute power. The question is, does he have sufficient legitimacy?”.
SLMC Leader MP Rauff Hakeem said, “Electoral integrity is related to voting itself. Within that context, we can look at political parties and their inner structures, role of the Election Commission, other laws and Parliament itself. There are broad checks and balances that can be put in place to call our representatives to be accountable. The common allegation against politicians nowadays is corruption. We do not have a robust party structure to deal with this. When it comes to allegations that are filed, even before the law enforcement authorities and investigative organs such as the Bribery Commission, CID and various other institutions come into play, the party itself should be in the forefront to take quick action.
“But that had not been forthcoming and that is why this lack of trust in the entire political establishment has come about. When we look at institutional weaknesses broadly starting from Parliament and then coming down to constitutionally empowered officers such as the Attorney General’s Office, the Judiciary and Police have to play a prominent role.”
Huge shortcoming
ITAK Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, said, “I can proudly say our party which is 75 years old has not even one instance of dynastic or family politics. However, there are serious issues with regard to women’s representation. We have severely failed to address that issue and I think it will be addressed strongly if we can change the negative political culture we have. I understand electoral integrity to be what the people want to realise through the process of elections, how efficiently or how the will of the people is translated after the elections and how the Government elected to office performs.
Our party expresses that will of the people over the past 75 years with no realisation of what our people want. It is a huge shortcoming in the process. It is the majority that wins and it is a good principle to follow. But when the majority rule becomes majoritarian rule, then you lose a plot altogether. Then the people who continuously express their political aspirations without fail will never realise their goals because they are numerically in the minority. How does the system accommodate that? If it doesn’t accommodate that there is a very serious flaw in the system and that perhaps led to three decades of violence. So, electoral integrity has to be built into it and such aspirations should also be given expression and realisation.”
“The other aspect is corruption. The Election Commission by and large has acted with integrity and the problem is not there. The problem is with regard to other institutions that have to enforce the law with regard to elections. You can literally get away with blue murder. So we have persons convicted of murder coming to Parliament. Money and political patronage also seriously affect electoral integrity because politicians very quickly learn that they can buy votes.
When that happens, there is no electoral integrity. The vote is cast for other reasons that are not accountable. Buying votes is one thing that happens all over the world and it instills fear of the other in your own community.”
Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara of the NPP said it is very important to establish the rule of law and democratic governance. “What is this electoral integrity about? It is about the entire electoral cycle from the time of nominations and the conduct of political parties. It is about how they select their candidates, spend money, use the media and how much fake news is being produced which can affect the ability of the people to make right decisions.
Two uprisings
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has a large number of examples from 1977 such as 1983 riots and postponement of Presidential Elections through a Referendum. That did not represent the will of the people. Ultimately, it resulted in two uprisings in the North and the South and that is what happens when we deny the will of the people. For a democracy to flourish and a nation to be healthy, there must be free and fair elections. When the people do not trust the system, the judiciary, Police and the electoral process, then they attempt to take law into their hands.
That is why electoral integrity is very important for all political parties to uphold. In this country there is a corrupt political culture where some politicians take up the law into their hands and they are not accountable to the law. In the recent past, a particular State Minister assaulted an Airport worker because he got angry with him. Yet he still holds his position and uses public funds without any sign of punishment. They know whatever they do, the law will not catch or punish them. Politicians always stand above the law. They should do politics and their duties as a social worker again. Now many politicians who come to Parliament consider that as an opportunity given them to earn money. That culture has to be changed if we want to establish electoral integrity.”
