The leaders of Rezistans ek Alternativ were in court this morning. The reason being that the case, where they are opposed to the State and the Electoral Supervisory Commission (and ors), was recalled by the Supreme Court. The members of Rezistans ek Alternativ are contesting the obligation to declare one’s ethnicity in order to be able to run in the general elections.
They were informed this morning, before the court’s full bench, that the State and the Electoral Supervisory Commission had put forward two preliminary points. These will have to be argued. However, said Rex Stephen, who represents Rezistans ek Alternativ, said that the court has shown some readiness to have the matter recalled as soon as possible. He added that this challenge is an issue that touches the foundations of parliamentary democracy.
The fact, according to him, that a person cannot run for the legislature if, for whatever reason, he does not classify himself or herself in a compartment that the Constitution has provided for, seems totally arbitrary nowadays.
He underlined the fact that he hopes that history will not repeat itself and that the case will be recalled before the general elections.
To recall, due to the persistent challenge in the state and given the time constraint, with Nomination Day approaching, the then Chief Justice had decided to put the case on hold in 2019.
