Parties brace for statute give-n-take

KATHMANDU, OCT 13 - Three major political parties are demonstrating flexibility in their stances with an aim to iron out differences over the key issues of the constitution writing process. Their focus is on the powers of the prime minister and the president in the new set-up and the number of federal units.

Negotiators involved in the cross-party talks said parties were close to resolving the disputes and efforts are under way to reach a conclusion. In Sunday’s bilateral and trilateral meetings, the opposition UCPN (Maoist) proposed discussions with the stakeholders if the federal units proposed by them are to be reduced, suggesting that the provincial assembly be authorised to name the provinces later if consensus fails on the names of the states now. The Maoist party has also hinted at compromise on its earlier stance of directly elected president as the executive head.

Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the parties are in the process of deciding the new constitution through consensus.

“We are demonstrating optimum flexibility. Proposal to initiate talks with other stakeholders such indigenous nationalities and cultural groups on the number of federal units is a positive development,” said Shrestha.

The Maoist party, which had earlier proposed to federate the country into 14 provinces, has been advocating a 10-state model. The ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML want seven provinces.

On the forms of governance, the UML has agreed to backtrack on its previous position of directly elected prime minister.

The party says it accepts “reformed parliamentary system” as proposed by the NC for the sake of a constitution before the January 22, 2015 deadline.

The three parties have reached an informal agreement to have both constitutional and supreme courts but they have differences over their jurisdictions.

The NC and UML are for mandating the constitutional council and the judicial

council to appoint the chief justice and apex court judges, respectively, forming a 165-member lower house and 75-membr upper house at the Centre in addition to provincial and local structures.

“Talks are heading on the right direction but conclusion has yet to be drawn,” said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak.

After agreeing to extend the deadline of the Constituent Assembly’s Political Dialogue and Constitutional Committee for the third time on Friday, the parties have started “serious” negotiations to find a common understanding on the contentious issues.

 “Parties are discussing openly,” said UML negotiator Agni Kharel. Leaders involved in talks have asked journalists “not to disturb them for at least three days”.