Christian Democrats back planned RP shift to parliament

The executive committee of the Centrist Democrats International, which represents 110 political parties around the world, has unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Arroyo administration’s bid for a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

In its recent convention in Spain, the CDI said it is "supporting the government of the Republic of the Philippines in its efforts to achieve constitutional reform."

The resolution came after the government announced its decision to shelve its plans to change the 1987 Constitution through the convening of a constituent assembly. But Speaker Jose de Venecia, CDI Asia-Pacific president, emphasized that the third and last mode, constitutional convention, is still alive and awaiting Senate action.

Con-con is gaining acceptance from many sectors including the Catholic Church, non-government organizations, and the so-called civil society groups. Some senators have also expressed openness to con-con.

The CDI resolution was one of several vital resolutions passed by the organization’s highest policy-making body.

CDI leaders also praised the government for its effort to "bring about greater political stability and hasten economic development by shifting its system of government from the decades-old bicameral presidential to the unicameral parliamentary system."

De Venecia said he was encouraged by the resolution’s major premise that countries in Europe and Asia have attained economic development under the parliamentary system of government with a unicameral parliament.

"We have argued time and again that the parliamentary system has been responsible for the economic success and political stability of the successful nations of Europe and mostly of Asia," De Venecia said.

Two previous routes to constitutional change — people’s initiative and con-ass — failed but Cha-cha advocates were undaunted.

The CDI Executive Committee said in its resolution that the parliamentary system "eradicates gridlock and destructive politics and allows the rule of majority parties or coalitions based on a program of government."

The CDI leaders stressed that the process of amending a nation’s Constitution is normal in a functioning democracy.