Talking to reporters, Head of Political Development Forum, Ali Saif Hassan, said that the position of both the opposition Joint Meeting Parties JMP and the ruling General People’s Congress is of that who is taking matters softly rather than making serious choices. He accused both sides of indulging in political bargaining and suggested that they opt for politics on the basis of principles and responsibility.
He predicted that the ruling GPC and the Joint Meeting Parties would come to a political agreement to postpone the elections for a few months in the next couple of weeks. “The ruling party’s actions in parliament and the opposition’s going to streets were passive tools to put pressure on one another,” Hassan said.
Analysts and opposition members argue the ruling General People’s Congress will sweep the majority of the seats no matter who runs, since the structure is rigged in the party’s favor.
They further said that for the Yemeni opposition, it would be a typically weak showing once they boycott the elections. “It is time for the opposition to get more representation in parliament. Their absence would mean that there was no robust share between them,” they added.
Last week the JMP threatened to boycott parliamentary elections due to be held in April, 27 and called for protests against the ruling party’s plan to hold the poll without completing a political dialogue for electoral reforms.
The ruling party said in it would participate in an election scheduled for April 2011, giving no more time for talks on long-promised reforms to guarantee free and fair parliamentary elections.