Parliamentary entitlement act
Of many amendments made to many legislations this winter session of the parliament in Thimphu is Parliamentary Entitlement Act where the amendment entitles the Members of Parliament (MP) of all annuities even if they retire or resign before the service expires.
The older version of the act had odd provisions, especially for the National Council members where they won’t get time to campaign to contest for second term. National Council Act is still hindrance to their way which mentions that the upper house shall be constituted on the day it completes its five year term. And until the NC members retain their position, they are not permitted to campaign for re-election- which is regarding as politicking by a member of non-political organ.
For members willing to be re-elected, early resignation is essential. The Parliamentary Entitlement Act restricts them from accessing state annuities if their term is incomplete due to resignation or termination. The very legislation has been amended.
Unlike that, the National Council members get three-month campaign period for re-election during which interim government takes the reign with primary function to hold the election.
Under this circumstance, resignation of the NC members with intention to start campaigning (silent) or join the political parties will badly affect the function of national council in the last session. The one-party dominated National Assembly might take advantage of endorsing major decisions at this crucial period.
On the other hand, there are fewer chances that National Council chairperson will get re-elected for he has to take charge of the duty till the last hour. The legislative system remains functionally complicated until changes are made whereby both National Council and National Assembly members get cooling period to campaign for re-election.
The National Council remains functionless for three months when National Assembly gets re-elected. This gap increases to six months in next election. The MPs and the government must look into this complication before the next round of election. Only one session is left, tactically, for NC members to debate on legislatives – that too is during budget session.
The parliament’s decision on cars and other facilities instead of important issues like tobacco act, state funding for political parties, disaster management bill among others will certainly raise hairs of the Bhutanese populace.