Rajpal's Column

12th November 2000

Patronage politics in making of Cabinet

By Rajpal Abeynayake

This symbolism is good for a cabinet process that embodies patronage politics.

Once, the London Economist reported that Anura Bandaranaike's crossing over to the UNP in the winter of his discontent, as not accidental.

It had been planned to extend the Bandaranaike patrimony, the Economist stated.

Having a Bandaranaike in the PA, and another in the UNP, made it absolutely clear that never mind who is in power, a Bandaranaike will be at the helm of the country's affairs.

But, notwithstanding all of that the cabinet issue proves that the political culture in Sri Lanka now is based on old principles. You scratch my back, and I scratch yours, quite hard.

However, in this process somehow there seem to be greater problems cropping up. The President needs her own share of patronage too.

She worked hard for the elections, been confined at home and all of that. Therefore, she needs a share of the kudos, and a good package too as booty, quid pro quo for good work carried out.

So, she rewards her-self by an act of omission. She does not give the Deputy Finance and Deputy Defence posts to anyone this time. Now, that's what can be called a good gift to self.

But, some other cabinet appointments also seem to be acts of gratification, rewards sent return to sender.

To all her upstart cabinet colleagues, those too ambitious, there has been a plague called on their houses. Mice instead have been appointed for substantive cabinet posts. It's an object lesson for lesser politicians, starting at cabinet level, on how best to use patronage.

This is political acumen that does not wait for a transition period. Unlike in the United States where a man who has not won has already begun his transition plans........

Bush is already planning his Cabinet. Already, he seems to have taken a few lessons from the Sri Lankan electorate, so why not some on the art of forming a Cabinet?

George W. Bush already seems to have rigged a ballot, confused voters, and perhaps got his agents to stuff a ballot box in a church. And he was not on the European Union election monitoring team to Sri Lanka either.

But, he couldn't do it as good as the Sri Lankan political maestros. You play hanky panky, at least do it good enough to go over the top. Even by one seat. But, Bush seems stuck somewhere in the middle, which has put him in a deadly limbo. It is like Chandrika Bandaranaike being in Temple Trees with Ranil Wickremesinghe inside the water closet. At least with cabinet appointments Bush should be in touch with big sister in the Sri Lankan capital. Maybe he could get that one right.

The Special Report

Editorial/ Opinion Contents