By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, MARCH 25: The 2017-18 budget session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament in exile concluded today with the legislative body of Tibetan government in exile (officially known as Central Tibetan Administration) approving a consolidated budget of rupees 2,43,98,02,997 for the next fiscal year.
The much-debated issue of amendment of electoral reform was deferred to the next session after Finance Minister (Kalon) Karma Yeshi, who also headed the Electoral Review Committee, on Friday requested the Speaker and the House to avail Kashag (the Cabinet) an opportunity to present a revised reform in the next session.
“We still have ample time for the next elections, which will happen in 2021. So, if Kashag is given an opportunity to present a revised reform in the next session, it would be more beneficial since we can take part in the discussion. So we urge you all to consider our request,” the minister said during the second discussion on the issue of electoral reform.
The reform became a major talking point after Kashag led by Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay walked out of the proceedings on March 18 after he raised an objection over the absence of Kashag’s proposal of a single phase election instead of the existing two-round (preliminary and final) system in the amendment proposal by the reform committee.
Though some parliamentarians objected the Speaker’s conduct over the matter, he said that it was all in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Parliament.
Today on the final day of the third session of the 16th Parliament, the speaker in his concluding speech acknowledged and praised the work put in by the reform committee.
“I won’t be commenting over the electoral reform. However, the election result is a pressing issue. If it produces an unworthy figure, it would lead to Tibetan people loosing its faith in the system. Moreover, it is very more damaging for the Tibetan struggle,” he said while appealing the parliamentarians to take collective responsibility.
Many notable political figures including former Prime Minister (Trisur) Samdhong Rinpoche, who was a member of the drafting committee of the Tibetan Charter, had spoken against the single-phase electoral system. In an interview he had said that it is a true form of democratic system and it is existent only in the Tibetan democracy.
The session spanning over eleven days began on March 14.
