Parliament passes bill on political parties with 3% threshold; Fringe parties protest three percent threshold

Kathmandu / March 22: The meeting of the Legislature-Parliament finally passed the bill relating to political parties by fixing the threshold of three percent votes for the proportional category of election while one seat in the first-past-the-post to be recognized as the national party.

Although big political parties were univocal for the threshold, the fringe ones strongly protested it.

The political party, securing three percent votes under the proportional category can represent in the parliament but is not eligible for incentives. The small parties protested in the parliament arguing that the bill was brought against their consent; and boycotted the parliament meeting.

Although they requested Speaker Onsari Gharti to make the big ones reconsider the bill, but in vain. Various 19 political parties including CPN-ML argued that the bill violated the rights to democratic practice and competition.

On behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure, Ramesh Lekhak, presented the proposal, seeking the passage of the bill. Similarly, Chairman of the State Affairs Committee Dil Bahadur Gharti presented the report of the Committee on the bill relating to political parties.

Responding to the queries and issues raised during the discussion, Minister Lekhak made it clear that the bill was brought to strengthen and institutionalize democracy, make the small political parties accountable and financial activities of political parties transparent.

The next meeting of the Legislature-Parliament would be held on March 30.

Fringe parties protest three percent threshold

Meanwhile, nineteen small political parties have protested three percent threshold proposed in a ‘bill related to political parties’.

During the meeting of the Legislature-Parliament on Wednesday, they demanded Speaker Onsari Gharti to take initiative for making the major political parties reconsider it. They said that the election would be affected if this bill was passed.

Demanding time with Speaker Gharti, CPN (ML) General Secretary CP Mainali protested the proposal of three percent threshold in proportional category and at least one seat in the first-past-the-post election, passed in the meeting of the State Affairs Committee and urged to rethink on it.

The proposal was brought against the constitution, sentiments of inclusive democracy and norms of multi-party system, he added.

Blaming the big parties that they tried to impose a system to ban the parties against the constitution, Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party expressed the view that all should get chance to do politics on the basis of ideology and thoughts.

Similarly, Mina Pun of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chairman of Nepal Pariwar Dal, Eknath Dhakal, Shivalal Thapa and Yashoda Kumari Lama of Dalit Janajati Party, protested the threshold.

UDMF boycotts meeting

With the beginning of the Parliament meeting, Nar Singh Chaudhary from the parties associated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front announced to boycott the meeting citing their demands were not addressed.

Lawmakers associated to UDMF exited the meeting chanting slogans. The meeting is still taking place. RSS