By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Sep. 22: The amendments brought in the house by the Dr. Lobsang Sangay led Kashag (cabinet) that calls primarily for one-time election instead of the existing two rounds of voting has been stalled in the Tibetan parliament.
The motion to hold discussions on the proposed reform, which won majority in the house on Friday, is now stalled and is subject to change of key terms in the Charter of the Tibetan exile government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration.
The Speaker of the house Khenpo Sonam Tenphel upheld arguments by legislators that reasoned that use of the term ‘final election’ in the Tibetan exile government charter indicate the subsistence of a primary election and hence, the amendments brought on by the Kashag is illegal and contrary to the Charter.
The Kashag who is pushing for a major reform in the electoral rules of the Central Tibetan Administration now has to win overwhelming majority accounting to three fourth of the house members to make changes in the Charter of the exile government to set in motion its proposed amendments.
In the eventuality of the Kashag failing to secure the overwhelming majority, the house will then deliberate on the amendments brought on by the joint cabinet and parliamentary committee formed last year that does not include any provision on the one-time election.
In March 2017, the incumbent Tibetan President led a walkout protest from the parliament over the exclusion of his proposal for one-time election instead of the existing two phase Tibetan elections for both parliamentarians and the Tibetan President.
Dr. Sangay yesterday said that the proposed reform should at least be discussed in the house before the house makes a stand on the issue.
