The president decided to hold such a meeting in response to the request made by Chairman of Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi to ask all political parties to support the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) polls, according the president´s press advisor Rajendra Dahal. [break]
Chairman Regmi, accompanied by Minister for Home and Foreign Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Minister for Law Hari Prasad Neupane, had reached the President´s Office on Wednesday evening to hold consultations with the president on amending the Interim Constitution so as to accommodate agreements reached earlier with the Federal Democratic Front (FDF) and the Federal Socialist Party (FSP).
“This was a courtesy call on president to inform the government´s decision to amend the interim constitution,” said Dahal.
The government´s team had appraised the president of the decision of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) to amend the statute in line with the six-point agreement reached with Upendra Yadav-led FDF and five-point deal Ashok Rai-led FSP.
While positively responding to the government´s decision on amending the interim constitution, the president has asked the government to continue efforts to bring the agitating political parties onboard the election process, said Dahal.
The government´s team held detailed discussions with President Dr Yadav on bringing a new ordinance. Earlier in the morning, top leaders in HLPC had requested Regmi to expedite the amendments in line with the agreement reached earlier with FDF and FSP. The amendments will pave the way for Election Commission to start necessary preparations for polls.
Earlier, HLPC had struck a six-point agreement with FDF and five-point agreement with FSP on retaining a 601-strong CA with 335 seats under the proportional electoral system and 240 under the first-past-the-post electoral system. HLPC had decided to stall the statute amendment process hoping that the Baidya-led alliance would eventually join the election process.
During the meeting held at Regmi´s official residence, HLPC Coordinator Sushil Koirala had informed the government team that they decided to expedite the legal process for constitutional amendment as Baidya-led alliance has not signs if it would participate in the November 19 polls.
On the occasion, Regmi while assuring amendments to the Interim Constitution asked the political parties to try their best to bring Baidya-led alliance onboard the election process. Regmi also asked the parties to reach to agreement in such a way that would not affect the election date.
Discussions on filling vacant positions
Top leaders represented in HLPC also held discussions with Regmi on filling vacant positions in various constitutional bodies and appointing envoys to various countries. “We have also reached an understanding to hold further discussion on the issue,” said a press statement issued by Regmi´s press advisor Bimal Gautam.
While ambassadorial positions in nearly a dozen countries are falling vacant, the government is yet to give full shape to various constitutional bodies, including the Public Service Commission and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). The government has not appointed ambassadors even to key countries, including India.
UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is also a former foreign minister, said the inordinate delay in appointment of ambassadors has put the country´s image at stake. “I personally proposed in HLPC to make ambassadorial appointments. We will hold discussions on the issue soon,” he said.
Regmi requested to cancel New York visit
At the HLPC meeting, leaders represented in HLPC suggested to Regmi to shelve his proposed visit to New York to participate in the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
They also maintained that Regmi should instead focus on making the November polls a success. According to sources, Regmi, however, said his visit would not affect poll preparations as he has already decided to cut short his visit.
Against his original plan to leave for New York on September 21 and return home on September 30, Regmi, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is now scheduled to fly to New York on September 26. He would lead an eight-member delegation and return home on September 29. Regmi is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 28.
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