OLIPPAC decision set for tomorrow

THE final Supreme Court decision on the validity of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) was yesterday deferred to tomorrow.
Western Governor Dr Bob Danaya and his provincial executive council, who filed the reference, will wait one more day for the verdict from the five-judge bench of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, his deputy Gibbs Salika and justices Bernard Sakora, Nicholas Kirriwom and Les Gavera-Nanu.
Danaya’s special reference sought to nullify sections of the OLIPPAC that restricted MPs from resigning from their political parties; that restricted them voting to remove a prime minister in a vote of no-confidence; that restricted their vote on the budget; and their vote to enact or repeal a constitutional law.
The referrers argued that the restrictions by OLIPPAC infringed the rights of MPs provided for in the Constitution and that the provisions, in summary, leaned towards “dictatorship”.
However, government lawyers said this was not so, arguing that the OLIPPAC contributed to stability of the government.
They said its existence ensured that MPs did not move around at will and at every opportunity but remained with one political party to serve their people.