The parliament DOES represent the Society!

Sometimes i hear people say there should be a minimum qualification for members of parliament; especially since there is a minimum qualification for Judges as well. The Judges are not elected by the people but the parliament is!The parliament is representing the society!

Democracy is where the people elect their rulers and the people elect persons to represent their views and translate them into laws and regulations. The majority of the elected members of the parliament then legislate. If the members of parliament legislate with no conference or participation of their constituencies; then the public who elected them can vote against that person in the next election. 

Hence, the parliament truly represents the society in general. If we call the parliamentarians names we are very well calling names to ourselves. If the parliamentarians are ineffective then it is due to a bad choice of the public. Of course there are those who came with adequate qualifications and moving campaigns and lots of promises and simply fail to deliver. These persons we can rid ourselves of by not electing them the next election. 

Maybe we can put in a special clause that states after 6 months in through their term, if 2 thirds of the electorate wish to remove their representative, via a petition, or a referendum they can be removed. I am not sure of the efficacy or feasibility of this process, especially with financial constraints. Maybe it can happen in the future but not right now.

So, when we go to the polls in March 2014 to elect our representatives; the persons who represents our voices, let is be someone reflective of your beliefs. Not one who represents the party that you belong to; nor your relative or good friend. At the end of the day it is the public that decides who governs them in Democracy.

Then there is the issue of a vote of no confidence by the current opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party [MDP] against the government if they win a parliamentary majority this election. Ex-president Nasheed's statement saying they would do it seems more like an empty threat of a tired and defeated politician. His contributions for the democracy and governance establishment of political systems within the Maldives will always be remembered fondly, but his "threat" seems one if is a reality, to destabilize an already polarised nation. I  believe that if the current government is given their 5 year term, [by being the bigger person and not doing what they did wrong-two wrongs do not make a right and all that] he would simply fail as a politician or become a true dictator. There is no need for the change of the government until the next election.

MDP needs to focus on their parliamentary election campaign; for the primaries seemed too tainted with allegations of corruption and anti-democratic tactics. 

So elect who governs you carefully!!!