The Office of the Registry of Political Parties is advising the 34 registered parties that technical and legal issues surrounding the registration of political parties have surfaced.
The issue came to light after the registry’s lawyer, under a directive from Registrar Dr. Alphonse Gelu, discovered that five of these parties have failed to meet requirements under the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and were currently deregistered.
The revised Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) outlines that for a political party to be eligible for registration, they must first be registered as an Association under the IPA.
Furthermore, a copy of the certificate of incorporation as an association must be submitted with an application to register as a political party.
These two provisions of the OLIPPAC mean the parties in question can no longer be registered as political parties.
The Registrar is concerned that with the looming national election just eight months away, and before the issue of writs, this issue may hinder the preparations of parties concerned.
He said he is looking at the possibility of allowing these parties to re-register with IPA and the registry of political parties.
Dr. Gelu could not disclose the name of the five parties saying the parties themselves have yet to be notified. He said that of the five, three parties have nine members currently in parliament.
The search by the registry party is part of an initiation by the registry of political parties to ensure that political parties become institutions that respect the rule of law in their dealings.
In that regard he said it was the responsibility of parties to check their status with IPA to maintain compliance with legal requirements.
