Tuesday July 25, 2023
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 (HOL) - The Parliament of the Puntland Regional State officially announced that they have unanimously agreed to amend certain provisions of the previous constitution regarding the recognition of political parties in Puntland.
According to the Parliament's decision, all 54 members present voted in favor of the proposed changes to the previous constitution, with 4 members opposing the amendments.
The most significant change that has sparked debate is the provision that stated three parties would participate in the elections. Now, nine political parties will be allowed to participate.
The Parliament also decided to enact a law that mandates the current nine political parties to form a political umbrella, as this was a requirement previously demanded by former Prime Ministers, Abdiweli Gaas and Omar Abdirashid.
Furthermore, the Parliament also approved a constitutional provision allowing the President and Vice President to be elected by the public, replacing the previous appointment of the Parliament.
The majority of the dispute revolves around the constitutional amendments. Opponents are particularly concerned about the potential consequences of the changes.