The Election Reform Commission is set to propose that the president be elected directly by the people and that no individual may serve as prime minister for more than two terms. A person will not hold both the positions of prime minister and party leader simultaneously. The proposal also includes a recommendation for a bicameral parliamentary system and constructive amendments to Article 70 of the constitution.
A Bengali news outlet, Amar Desh, reported these details on Saturday (4 January), citing Constitutional Reform Commission Head Professor Ali Riaz and other sources. Professor Riaz stated that the commission is currently in the final stages of reviewing its recommendations.
The interim government formed the Constitutional Reform Commission on 7 October, initially granting it a 90-day tenure, which was set to end on 7 January. However, on Thursday (2 January), the government extended the commission's tenure to 15 January through a gazette notification.
Presidential Election by Direct Vote
According to Amar Desh, unnamed sources within the commission revealed that while no final decision has been made on the direct election of the president, the commission's chairman and most members favor this approach. They believe that balancing power between the president and the prime minister is essential. To achieve this, they propose increasing the president’s authority and introducing direct voting to make the president a true representative of the people.
Under the current constitutional framework, the ruling party’s preferred candidate typically becomes the president. To address this imbalance, the commission is expected to recommend direct elections for the presidency, ensuring that a neutral candidate is chosen through a public vote. A draft proposal is being finalised with these considerations in mind.
Discussions on the presidential election have also taken place within the Electoral Reform Commission. However, it has deferred the decision to the Constitutional Reform Commission. The Electoral Reform Commission has similarly emphasised the need for a balance of power between the president and the prime minister.
When asked about the direct election of the president, Professor Riaz stated that the commission has not yet reached a final decision.
Separation of Party Leader and Prime Minister Roles
The Constitutional Reform Commission has proposed separating the roles of party leader and prime minister. If a party leader becomes prime minister after securing a majority, they must relinquish their position as party leader during their tenure. Alternatively, the party leader can opt not to assume the role of prime minister, allowing another member of the party to take the position.
Speaking to Amar Desh, Professor Riaz stressed the importance of decentralising power to prevent its concentration in a single individual. The proposal aims to distribute authority between the party leader and the prime minister, addressing past experiences of centralised governance.
Two-Term Limit for Prime Ministers
The commission is recommending a maximum of two terms for any individual serving as prime minister. However, it has yet to decide whether the terms must be consecutive or separated. The chairman highlighted that repeated terms by the same individual have historically led to the centralisation of power, reducing accountability. The commission is currently weighing the pros and cons of both approaches before finalising its recommendation.
Amendment of Article 70
Under the current provisions of Article 70, Members of Parliament (MPs) lose their seats if they oppose their party. The commission views this as a restriction on free expression and is considering amendments to allow MPs greater freedom to voice independent opinions. Exceptions will apply only in cases of forming or dissolving the parliament.
The commission plans to recommend measures to balance the speaker’s authority by involving opposition parties in parliamentary proceedings. It is also considering a proposal to elect the deputy speaker from a political party different from that of the speaker.
The commission is expected to recommend a bicameral parliamentary system, drawing inspiration from established practices in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
