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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General calls on MPs to reassert the role of Parliament

26 September 2000

As governments get stronger, parliamentarians must "fearlessly exercise their responsibilities" and work to restore the delicate balance between the legislature and the executive, said Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr Don McKinnon in an address to the 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Edinburgh today. 

Mr McKinnon stated that "it seems to me that almost everywhere the balance has swung much too far in the direction of the Executive and away from the Legislature. That is why I want to urge you today to do even more to assert the role of Parliament." 

He went on to stress that "parliament's representative function is vital", that it must have a "central role in the national dialogue" and that it must adapt to the new demands of the electorate. In law-making in particular, "Parliament needs to be seen as a partner with the Executive, not merely a conveyor belt for its business or an obstacle to be overcome".  Above all, "its vital function of scrutiny, its task of making the Executive accountable, must be safeguarded and strengthened." 

Mr McKinnon reminded parliamentarians that "we must ensure that democracy is not thought of as a matter only of ballot boxes on election day.  It is a process, not an event… which can take years or decades...  It is about how a society is, not just the institutions it creates.  It is a matter of taking on board the substance of democracy, not merely adopting democratic forms."   He said that the "litmus tests of the health of any democratic society" are strong and responsive democratic institutions, a genuinely democratic culture and the active encouragement of a dynamic civil society. 

This, he went on to explain, is why the Commonwealth Secretariat has organised a series of workshops aimed at 'deepening democracy' through enhancing the role of the opposition,  encouraging  greater  political  participation  by  women  and   reinforcing  

democratic practices in small states, among other themes. "Deepening democracy," noted Mr McKinnon, "is a task for all Commonwealth countries, not only those which have recently made the transition from one-party or military rule." 

The Secretary-General concluded his challenge to Commonwealth MPs with a reference to recent coups in Commonwealth countries, calling on parliamentarians to reject complacency and  "be on the front-line" when democracy itself is threatened.  

Note to Editors:

The 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in Westminster Hall, London, on Thursday 21 September. After the opening ceremony, the conference continued in Edinburghand will end on 29 September.  The theme of the conference is "Harnessing Global Communications to Enhance Democracy".

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