A Government of National Unity?

The recent elections revealed a number of fundamental flaws in the electoral system which can only be corrected by changes to the act.

The courts may discover numerous cases of inefficieny and incompetency. Even if some of these have been intentional, the general idea to let citizens stand in the burning sun for hours is an unacceptable health hazard.

It seems three issues are the consequence:

– Politicians have to work on an improved act. Politicians have to do their jobs instead of asking the legal system to dictate a solution. Even if brave judges order a total election re-run it would not be plausible under the current conditions.

– Due to the socio-economic crisis, the country can’t wait until politics has sorted out the swamp it is. It can’t afford a political crisis on top of all other existing threats.

– Chances are high the nation will never find out what the ‘real’ election result would have been. A legal judgement may not satisfy the urge for a historic judgment.

The case for a government of national unity gets stronger by the day.

Most opposition leaders have limited experience in the running of major branches of government.

Thus it could be fruitful for them to be integrated into a functioning system at first. A political commission could look into the electoral flaws instead of lawyers fighting a legal battle.

Last, but not least, an experienced civil society could assist in various ways not to forget the public at large.

Andreas Peltzer