https://www.liberianobserver.com/ Liberia's First Independent Daily en Thu, 02 May 2024 13:56:52 +0000 Thu, 25 May 2023 08:29:34 +0000 https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-bvr-process-marred-underage-entrants-g-kru   abednegodavis75@gmail.com (Abednego Davis) e1ea7a92-c77b-4808-835d-9c9cfc80070b Thu, 25 May 2023 08:29:34 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-october-elections-about-real-change-not-second-chance   15fe773e-6a89-41db-9f18-68d7672539d1 Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:32:41 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-no-party-bigger-us-says-weah   tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 6638af3c-b3ee-45df-b1e0-59db3fd45b0d Sun, 09 Apr 2023 20:18:40 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-nec-extends-daily-working-hours-phase-one-voter-registration   c8e702f9-8366-4b45-b573-edc1960922a2 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:15:15 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-boakai-calls-biometric-voter-registration-extension .... “Not doing so will be an act of deliberately disenfranchising Liberian citizens from participating in the elections,” he said. Former Vice President Joseph Boakai has urged the National Elections Commission (NEC) to extend biometric voter registration to compensate for delays and… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 7a64ea0b-a61f-4b80-b780-ef4d00b5f307 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:57:18 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-supreme-court-hears-cpps-challenge-voter-registration-today   a94f6d5c-04f8-4967-a0ca-9c19ea66929c Tue, 04 Apr 2023 07:14:02 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-us-ambassador-foresees-electoral-crisis-if   dyates460@gmail.com (David A. Yates) cd564c1a-2ff4-4fc4-8ab6-18b13dd0b4da Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:19:01 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-voters-trucking-liberian-elections   6e1378ee-a3d6-4bae-a03b-8a34841f1c18 Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:33:02 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-massive-voters-trucking-mars-registration-process .... As angry citizens reportedly damaged a National Transit Authority (NTA) bus bearing plate number B-30510 in the Brewerville community outside Monrovia over 200 persons were reportedly onboard the NTA bus heading to Bomi County to form part of the ongoing registration process.  Nothing… kokoianthony@gmail.com (Anthony Kokoi) 256cd06a-8973-4d64-b620-6cb9fba0837a Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:58:32 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-weah-vetoes-progressive-new-elections-law — The law would have empowered the National Elections Commission to find or delist any political parties that failed to adhere to the gender quota.  President George Weah has vetoed several legislative amendments to the country’s electoral law, saying the amendments were in conflict with already existing constitutional provisions, and other laws.  The 54 legislature amendments sought to make 30% gender representation mandatory, and give Diaspora Liberians voting rights among other progressive ideas. The law would have empowered the National Elections Commission (NEC) to fine or delist any political parties that failed to adhere to the gender quotas.  But Weah, in a communication to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, wrote that he prefers the law staying the way it is. The President’s action dashed the hopes of many women rights advocates who had for years lobbied for the quota. “The country is just seven months away from the 2023 general and presidential elections. As such, certain changes in the elections law at a time so close would tend to send mixed signals to the electorates and present the potential to cause delays in elections processes,” Weah said.  The President's veto of the bill, which comes more than five months after the bill’s passage, can be overridden by members of the legislature, depending on how many lawmakers maintained their previous support for the bill. Bills passed by the Legislature need the President's signature to become law. On rare occasions, the President may choose to veto — or reject — legislation because of some policy disagreement. Lawmakers can override a presidential veto and enact bills into law by mustering two-thirds of votes in both chambers — the House of Representatives and the Senate. But for now, it is unclear if the House and Senate would attempt to override the veto.  If they do not, the President's veto would be sustained. Weah also noted that he could not accept the amendments when there are existing laws that provide for checks and balances regarding the scrutiny of persons to serve as commissioners of the country’s electoral body. The President’s veto also means that Elections Commissioners would not be forced to retire as a result of reaching 70 years of age, even if their tenure had not expired. “The period within which a commissioner would become statutorily ineligible to serve as a commissioner is already addressed, limiting a commissioner’s tenure to a maximum of two terms. “The existing section 2.10 of the Elections Law already provides for proper administrative functions and supervision within the NEC and that the country is about seven months away from the 2023 General Elections, and such administrative changes should be considered in a non-election year.” The president's veto, which also cancels the election of magistrates, says the existing election adequately captures the roles of magistrates. “Also, article 83(c) of the 1986 Constitution gives the NEC thirty days to investigate and issue a final ruling. Assuming the NEC uses the entire thirty 30 days, [there] will be [limited] deadline for the NEC to render a final ruling.” “The dissatisfied party would then have seven days to perfect its appeal to the Supreme Court which has seven days to render its decision.” Hence, election cases should be disposed of before the second working Monday in January 2024, which is the date the 55th Legislature shall first assemble. “The Presidency is willing to work with this Legislature on ways to enhance the NEC’s capacity to speedily dispose of election cases.” Meanwhile, the President’s veto is in line with article 35(1) chapter V of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.  This article grants the President the right to veto any instrument passed by the Legislature. The President’s veto can be overturned by the Legislature by a two-thirds majority in accordance with the Constitution. lmsonpon@gmail.com (Leroy M. Sonpon 1b3a0dba-674e-42dd-b246-0334b6b37085 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 06:07:10 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-nec-says-biometric-voter-registration-process-course   liberianobserver@gmail.com (Staff Editor) eef2aba7-ec19-4fe6-81dd-b9cb011b5ebe Tue, 14 Mar 2023 06:05:21 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-allen-browns-ambitious-vision-liberia — LRP's political leader promises food for all, resources for all, and Liberia for all, but what are his chances at the polls come October?  The newly nominated standard bearer of the Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), Allen Brown, has a huge vision for Liberia. He wants to place… harmonwilliam89@gmail.com (William Q. Harmon) 6b2c53c9-3d54-4317-a6b1-fc91e9394e20 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 06:14:26 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-nimba-women-groups-commit-support-cummings   5d0d23f2-655f-440a-a409-aa9cce3c7ca9 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:38:51 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-nec-says-stakeholders-consultations-important-2023-elections   35c49fb0-bb2c-4f24-a22d-64641c1d9cfd Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:33:16 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily