The constitution - in that document... Organizing the executive branch of the state consisting of a president and a prime minister was a deliberate attempt to avoid power becoming concentrated in the hands of one individual given the country’s unhappy history of dictatorship and mistrust between communities following a debilitating civil strife.
But the system intended to introduce checks and balances failed to do just that. It is a system that is not fit for purpose. Putting the current prime minister’s performance at the heart of the current controversy is a red herring – replacing him with another handpicked by the president will not solve the problem.
This is a wake-up call for parliament, to take stock of the situation so far and come up with bold move. It is time to grasp the nettle and tackle the contradiction at the heart of the constitution. It beggars belief that the system gives the PM the bulk of the executive power but then gives the president exclusive authority to nominate such a premier without consultation or consideration. That is the elephant in the room.
Those who designed the system could be forgiven for being too trusting of human nature. It was never envisaged that a ruthless individual with hidden agenda could emerge and select the PM he wants to usurp the power of the executive lock, stock and barrel.





