Abu Taher
The 13th National Election of Bangladesh has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of the country’s traditional First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system versus a possible Proportional Representation (PR) model. As the political landscape evolves, many argue that electoral reforms could better reflect the popular will and ensure more inclusive governance.
After the interim government of Bangladesh took office, various commissions have been formed to reform the state system, including the electoral system. Many political parties have been demanding proportional representation elections or PR system and it quite becomes a controversial issue just before the parliamentary election to be held in February next year.
Political parties including Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon, Communist Party, etc. are in favour of proportional representation election. Because it will create opportunities for small parties to enter the Parliament. However, major parties like BNP fear that this may create complications in forming a stable government and is opposing this system underscoring the importance of elections. Over the issue two major political parties are facing off. In proportional representation, a direct ratio is created between votes and seats. The number of seats they have in Parliament will decided by the percentage of votes a party receives. For example, if there are a total of 300 seats in a Parliament and a party receives 30 percent of the votes, they will get about 90 seats. No votes are ‘wasted’ in this process, that is, each vote has an impact on the Parliament. This system is in use in various countries of the world like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Greece, Italy, Israel, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand. In those countries, the diversity and inclusion of democracy have increased. However, there are also many examples of political instability and frequent coalition changes. For example, in Israel and Nepal, governments change frequently, because no party can win a majority on its own. On the other hand, Germany is relatively stable, because a balance has been brought there through a mixed system.
If the PR system is introduced in Bangladesh, there is a possibility of a major debate on how it will be implemented, fully or in a partial mixed system. Even many say that Bangladesh is not yet ready for elections under the PR system. Because the quality of politics in Bangladesh is not yet developed. In the PR system, the party will decide who will be the MP, not the voters. In that case, the party that used to buy party nomination in exchange of huge amount of money and so, there is an ample opportunity for non-political or businessmen to get the tickets to the Parliament as MP who actually do not have any connection with the mass people.
Therefore, the real politicians will not be evaluated properly. Those who spent their whole lives in politics and remained connected with the root level, are no longer be evaluated as they would overrun by wealthier. Moreover, voters do not have the opportunity to choose their own candidates.
If the election tempo runs on, there are less than five months left for the 13th national election in Bangladesh. Although a few parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, want proportional or PR system and as there is no political consensus, the Election Commission is preparing to organize the vote in the conventional system as per the Constitution.
Now, the question is whether it is realistic to go for PR system within the time available. And, in such a context, what will Jamaat-e-Islami, which leads the parties that have come out in the field demanding PR, do?
Jamaat-e-Islami should understand that the Constitution must be amended to hold elections under the PR system. Also, there are some other complications. Striking a political consensus to implement this approach soon might be difficult. Culturally we are accustomed with the current system, under which a party needs to get a majority of seats to form a government. That means they have to get more than 150 seats or a coalition government can be formed if this number of seats is not won by any party. Elections under the proportional representation (PR) system can make it difficult for a single party, by no means to form a government, even forging of coalition with the parties might be a difficult task and obstacle to form the government or would make the government very fragile if the parties leave the coalition.
In our country PR is a new system and the majority of people are not accustomed with this. In addition, there are legal, administrative and public awareness issues in implementing the PR system. If the goal of organizing the election in February and the implementation of the PR system within that time, is not possible. So, Political parties should consider establishing of PR system elections in their long run political strategy, not for 13th National Election.
In view of the above, and to avoid the existing rift opinion among political parties, may agree to hold election under the existing system and at the same time all they should have a pledge to exercise democracy within the party and shunning off influenced by money. By the time, parties might take massive awareness initiatives so that a consensus on the PR system could grow for 14th national election upon constitutional amendments by the new elected government.
(The views expressed in this article are the author’s own)
The writer is a journalist and communication professional
