One of the attributes of a democratic parliament is its ability to be representative of all sectors of society. Representativeness should be seen in terms not only of numbers but also of fair opportunities for all members to participate meaningfully and freely in the proceedings so as to articulate the diverse interests of society. This requirement is especially important in post-conflict environments, where parliament needs to stand out as a crucible of national reconciliation.
The IPU has been working with the Parliament of Burundi over the past several years to build its capacity to discharge its constitutional mandate and to act as a forum for the free expression and exchange of ideas with a view to the consolidation of peace.
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To that end, the IPU held a retreat for senior parliamentary leaders in Gitega, some 150 km from Bujumbura, from 1 to 2 September 2009. The second of its kind, the retreat was attended by the Bureaux and committee chairs of both the Senate and the National Assembly, as well as representatives of political parties sitting in parliament. At least one former head of State was in attendance. The retreat offered an opportunity to reflect on ways and means to foster dialogue and inclusiveness in the decision-making process. The proceedings were facilitated by resource persons from Benin and Cameroon.
During the two-day event, the participants discussed how to promote a culture of democracy and peaceful change of power, the role of parliament in promoting civil and political rights and the major challenges facing the Parliament of Burundi. This last point was the subject of special scrutiny given Burundi’s immediate political calendar, with presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in 2010 and many new players set to participate in elections for the first time. The retreat took place at a time when Parliament had before it the draft electoral law that will govern those elections. The participants unanimously agreed to work in a spirit of dialogue, tolerance, accommodation and consensus to ensure that the law reflected the concerns of all and that the right conditions were put in place for the organization of the elections, including making room for new political actors to participate in the political process. They further resolved to promote parliament as a forum for debate and to ensure that the conduct of their respective political parties did not impede parliament’s work. They were adamant that parliament’s role had to change from crisis manager to development promoter.
Both the IPU and the Parliament of Burundi have agreed to organize regular retreats to allow the key stakeholders in parliament to continue addressing and resolving topical national issues in a concerted manner. The retreat is seen as a useful complement to the other good offices efforts deployed by the IPU to ensure the smooth functioning of the country’s parliament.
