Revised laws to strengthen parties: Gelu

 THE focus of the revised Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) is to strengthen political parties as opposed to the Organic Law which regulates the rights of MPs, Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates Commission Dr Alphonse Gelu says. 

He said the review was influenced by the Supreme Court decision and the experiences that the Registry faced in 2001. 

He said the OLIPPAC contained provisions that were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2010.

“A total of 10 provisions of the OLLIPAC Law were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court – Sections 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 69, 70, 73(1)(b) and 81,” Gelu said.

“The main argument from the Supreme Court decision was that the OLIPPAC infringed on the rights of the leaders (MPs). Voting on conscience must be up-held at all times.”

Gelu was speaking at the consultation workshop in Port Moresby yesterday.