Referendum urged for new electoral system
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A referendum should be called after a new electoral system is contained in the Constitution. The members of parliament discussed the report of the commission to review electoral system that is appropriate with Myanmar at Lower House parliament in Nay Pyi
“If the PR (proportional representation) system is introduced, a proposed bill must be submitted under Section 433. It must be put forward to Union parliament in accordance with Section 434. According to Section 435, 20 percent of the representatives of Union parliament must submit the proposal. According to Section 436 (a), it needs the approval of 75 percent representatives of Union parliament. It also needs the approval of more than half of eligible voters by holding a referendum,” MP Win Myint of Pathein Constituency of Ayeyarwady Region said.
He added that the report of electoral review commission went against the provisions prescribed in the Constitution.
“We will introduce an electoral system but all Lower House MPs will have to choose the electoral system that is suited for the country. But, the commission chairman said in his report that way-3 and way-4 are appropriate with the country and so we objected to it because they are not,” MP Dr Zaw Myint Maung of Kyaukpadaung Constituency said.
He added that the 2008 Constitution is aimed at the FPTP (first-past-the-post) and therefore it needs to be amended.
“Nowadays, the commission is studying electoral systems being practiced in other countries. It is utmost important for the commission to choose an electoral system that will be appropriate with the prevailing condition in Myanmar,” Lower House MP Win Myint of Myingyan Constituency of Mandalay Region said.
A third protest against the effort to switch the electoral system ahead of next year’s election will be held in Yangon on November 1, following one scheduled for October 26 and another held on September 28, protest organisers say.
The protest will target Upper House MP Khin Waing Kyi of the National Democratic Force who submitted the original proposal calling for the Union Election Commission to adopt the PR system, rather than the current one in which only the candidate who wins the most votes in a constituency is elected to Parliament. The proposal was approved by the Upper House in June.
