Members of civil society groups, lawyers, representatives of the international community and some MPs took part today in a public hearing on the draft National Elections Bill 2012 under deliberations at the National Legislative Assembly.
Civil Society Alliance secretary Biel Boutrous Biel told CRN that the discussion of the Elections draft was an important opportunity to accommodate inclusive and participatory governance arrangements.He said he was concerned with the definition of literacy demanded for candidates to the Assembly and to the Presidency.
National Justice Minister John Luk Jok said the Transitional Constitution defines literacy and it is too late to change the issue of personal qualifications to run for public offices.
Mr Biel argued that the 35 years of age needed for the National Elections Commission members contradicts the Transitional Constitution.
The Charter says candidates to the parliament and to the Council of State have to be 21 or over and to run for the presidency they have to be al least 40.
Minister Luk answered that the ages determined by the Constitution cannot be used to select elections commission members.
He explained that due to the complicated duties they face, members of the elections commission need to be mature people.
Merekeje Lona, a member of civil society, said besides the affirmative action of 25 percent, women are unfairly treated in the Elections bill.
Minister John Luk said the consensus from today’s public hearing will be incorporated in the draft.