Despite Opposition Political Parties’ Quest For The Mid-term Senatorial Date Not To Be Changed, Senate Endorses December 8

Despite political parties opposition for the mid-term senatorial date to be changed from October 13, 2020 to any other date, the plenary of the Liberian Senate has endorsed its joint committee report on the postponement of the 2020 mid-term senatorial elections to December 8, 2020.

The plenary which is the highest decision making body of the Liberian Senate took the decision Friday, June 5, 2020 in its regular session on capitol hill.

The Senate decision followed a report submitted by its joint committees of both Autonomous Agencies and the committee on Claims, petition and Judiciary.

According to the committee’s report the date of the October mid-term elections would now be changed from October 13 to December 8, 2020 should the House of Representatives concurs with the Senate by signing a joint resolution that will be sent to the President.

“The elections and referendum scheduled for 13 October 2020 should be postponed to December 8, 2020 the evident is that because of COVI19 and the lack of funding in 2019 and early 2020,” the committee’s report said.

The report furthered that the legislature should as quickly as possible processed the funds for the elections and the referendum and that the executive should make said fund available in order to ensure that there is no delay or interruption in the two processes.

The committee stresses in the report that the Final Registration Roll (FRR) be cleaned with the involvement of all political parties as in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling in the 2017 general and presidential elections.

“A cleanup process for the 2017 FOR should be timely conducted and political parties should be involved the process in order to enhance the legitimacy and authenticity of the 2017 FRR for use of the 2020 mid-term senatorial elections and referendum,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, a motion was made by Grand Bass county Senator, Jonathan Kaipay that the report be endorsed into a resolution and send to the House of Representatives for concurrence for onward submission to the President and said motion was passed by the full plenary.