A large majority of respondents to a Business Times (BT) poll this week sent out a clear “NO’ message on the government’s latest attempt to change the constitution to allow a President to serve more than two terms.
In one of the most widely-responded polls in the BT popular email surveys, 90 % responded with a NO to the question as to whether the Constitution should be changed to permit an individual to serve three terms as President.
The BT poll came after President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a UNP delegation on Monday that he planned to seek a third term in office (in 2016 when his second term ends). To do so means amending the Constitution which permits only two, 6-year terms for an incumbent President.
While 1.42 % was undecided in the poll, just 8.57% said YES to constitutional changes to allow a third-term President. More than 450 respondents from the business community, students, economists and retired professionals responded to the poll, many eager to express their view.
While many respondents gave an emphatic NO, NO, NO answer (many repeating the word twice or thrice for emphasis), the same emphasis (YES, YES) was given among the few who support President Rajapaksa’s plan for a third term, saying there is no other leader in the country. While the poll is Colombo-centric, with respondents mostly from in and around Colombo and may not reflect the view of the entire country, it nevertheless provides a strong middle class perception on how people feel about virtually unlimited terms in presidential office.
“No. This is neither a national issue nor a priority. Constitutional changes must focus on what’s important for the country as a whole…not what’s good for individuals or families or parties,” said one respondent, while another respondent said: “The Presidency would be abolished the masses were told at the elections and the many elections prior.”
A retired professor noted that the only change in the Constitution should be to abolish the Presidency. “That was what has been promised by all parties. A third term does not arise,” he said.
A supporter of a third-term presidency said President Rajapaksa can bring political stability. “For me it’s a big Y (YES). Why? Because we deserve him another time....the whole country deserves him one more time. I personally don't want to see the country go back to square one,” he said.
Another Rajapaksa-backer said no other President has done what Rajapaksa has done to bring peace to the country. “There is a lot of development taking place all over in the country - especially in the North-East and the south. This country has never seen the likes of this type of development ever before.
mployment opportunities have increased,” he said adding that the opposition is in total disarray.
“They do not know if they are coming or going. I think it is good for the opposition to work together with the government for the betterment of the country at large. The press too must play their role with responsible, positive reporting. Finally we must all do our part with hard work,” he said.
But strong anti-presidency sentiments were expressed in this poll with one respondent saying that the constitution shouldn’t be changed arbitrarily at the whims and fancies of rulers. “Changes to the constitution must originate from the people (to increase their freedoms and liberties by strengthening the rule of just law) and not the rulers,” the respondent, a businesswoman, said.
Another respondent recalled that President Rajapaksa’s election manifesto promised the removal of the Executive Presidency. But, this marketing specialist, said he saw no issue with an Executive Presidency. “It depends on how the office is executed. In the Sri Lankan context my view is we need one.”
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