The government announced months ago that professional
association elections were going to be held, even though they had previously
been postponed for most associations under COVID-19 health restrictions. But
the government later backtracked on its decision and refused to hold said
elections or set a clear date for them.
اضافة اعلان
This decision was made in parallel with the parliamentary
elections, which were held at a time when COVID-19 case numbers had reached new
peaks. Yet, the government did not back down on its decision to press forward
with the elections, despite knowing that an absence of social distancing — during
the event and following the announcement of its results — would lead to a spike in cases, and we all remember the
violations that came out of the elections.
Adding insult to injury, the government also announced a
date for municipal elections, which will also lead to unsafe practices and
violations, even though they were scheduled for August early on. August is
months away and the government may be wagering on a larger number of vaccinated
people and a drop in cases, which would bring about safer elections. However,
the country’s experience with the latest parliamentary elections proves that
going to the polls is first and foremost a political decision, rather than
being one tied to the pandemic.
The only pending file is the professional association elections,
which includes the small number of large associations. The call to push back
the elections covers all professional associations, which is unreasonable and
unacceptable because the conditions of associations generally require solutions
as there are issues that need to be addressed by new councils.
The volume of complaints at many associations has reached
its highest levels and if the government were to listen to the general assembly
of any association, they would hear a lot that differs from what their councils
have to say, given that these councils care little for the postponement of
elections since they get to maintain their positions.
How can we be persuaded of pushing the association elections
back when the government itself allowed for parliamentary elections that saw a
large turnout and a hike in COVID cases; and even scheduled municipal
elections? This is an unsound situation in every sense of the word, especially
since association members would be the most committed to preventative and
precautionary measures if the elections were to be held.
We are calling on the government to either announce the real
reasons behind postponing the professional association elections or to announce
a schedule as it has for municipal elections, cascading upwards from the
smallest to the largest associations. Otherwise talks of political reform would
be incomplete under circumstances that require the reform of associations and
remaining institutions, including municipalities, decentralization councils,
and up to the parliamentary election law and resulting amendments.
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