Prachanda will become executive president within 5 years: Poudel

KATHMANDU, June 9: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) standing committee member, Devendra Poudel, has said that party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will be elected as the directly elected executive president within five years.

“We were of the different view about the subject of directly elected executive presidential system while drafting constitution. This topic is still under discussion in the party,” said leader Poudel at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday.

Chair Dahal, during a program some days ago, had said that NCP is intending to introduce the system of directly elected executive president by amending constitution—the remark heating the national politics at the time when NCP has just secured two-third command in the House with the support from Federal Socialist Forum Nepal.

“Prachanda is the most qualified and the strongest candidate for the position of executive president in the country. If the country chooses to adopt the system, Prachanda will become the executive president…within five years,” he said.

“Prachanda raised the subject a few days ago, and it has become a hot issue today,” he said.

He however clarified that the subject matter of introducing executive president has not gained any shape in the party discussions.

ISSUE of SPEAKER, DEPUTY SPEAKER WILL BE RESOLVED IN CONSENSUS

Stating that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government will head the government for a straight five years, he added, “Oli and Prachanda, during the merger of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have established an understanding to head the government by turn. Oli will become prime minister for two and a half years before handing over the premiership to Prachanda. In this duration of five years, the country will go for a system of directly elected executive president, and Prachanda will become president.”

Leader Poudel also said that the issue of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be resolved as provisioned by the constitution.

Article 91 of the constitution of Nepal states that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be from different parties.

The Speaker of the House, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe both are from NCP. Earlier, before the unification of the two communist parties, Mahara represented Maoist Center and Tumbahanphe represented UML.

The Sepaker and Deputy Speaker were elected before the unification took place. Now, the circumstances are different. We are discussing this issue with the law experts. We will also hold discussion with the opposition parties. The issues will be resolved in consensus,” he said.

‘NOT PROTECTING CRIMINAL LAWMAKERS’

Leader Poudel defended the provision of not suspending a lawmaker from the post upon being arrested for a criminal offence. The Parliament on Friday passed the House of Representatives Regulations 2075- that provisions barring a lawmaker from parliamentary privilege, perks and facilities instead of suspending his from his position upon being arrested for a criminal offence or any other offence accountable to incur a jail term of three years or more.

“If a lawmaker gets suspended when she faces a criminal charge, it can bring negative culture in the parliamentary system. Lawmakers may be made victims of plots in the coming days,” he said.

“This provision has not been brought to protect the criminal lawmakers,” he said.