THE PARAMETERS THAT MAY SPELL THE DEATH OF SECTORAL PARTYLISTS

THE PARAMETERS THAT MAY SPELL THE DEATH OF SECTORAL PARTYLISTS

The new parameters were as follows:

 

• Three different groups may participate in the party-list system: (1) national parties or organizations, (2) regional parties or organizations, and (3) sectoral parties or organizations.

• National parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent “any marginalized and underrepresented” sector.

• Political parties can participate in party-list elections provided they register under the party-list system and do not field candidate in legislative district elections. A political party, whether major or not, that fields candidates in legislative district election can participate in party-list elections only through its sectoral wing that can separately register under the party-list system. The sectoral wing is by itself an independent party, and is linked to a political party through a coalition.

• Sectoral parties or organizations may either be “marginalized and underrepresented” or lacking in “well-defined political constitutencies.” It is enough that their principal advocacy pertains to the special interest and concerns of the sector. The sectors that are marginalized and underrepresented” include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, handicapped, veterans and overseas workers. The sectors that lack well-defined political constitutencies include professionals, the elderly, women and the youth.

• A majority of the members of sectoral parties or organization that represent the “marginalized and underrepresented” must belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector that they represent. Similarly, a majority of the members of sectoral parties or organization that lack “well defined political constituencies” must belong to the sector that they represent. The nominees of either sector must either belong to their respective sectors, or must have a track record of advocacy.

• National, regional and sectoral parties or organizations shall not be disqualified if some of their nominees are disqualified, provided that they have at least five other nominees who remain qualified.           

The inclusion of national parties of traditional politicians could topple the balance to the damage of the sectoral partylists of tyhe marginalized or under represented groups.

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