The Chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Representative Michael Thomas, has expressed strong support for modifying the Presidential Transition Bill.
A statement on Tuesday, August 6, said the legislation developed by the Law Reform Commission of Liberia aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework that ensures a unified transfer of power between democratically elected administrations.
Therefore, the bill further seeks to eliminate historical challenges associated with transitions, thereby safeguarding democratic principles and values while incorporating best practices recognized internationally.
At a daylong public hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Thomas emphasized the importance of basing policy decisions on solid evidence and advocated for enhancing legal frameworks to promote transparency and ensure equal participation in the legislative process.
The hearing, convened in the joint chambers of the Capitol, was organized by a Joint Committee on Judiciary, Elections, Executive, and Good Governance, following a recent directive from plenary.
It can be recalled that President Joseph Boakai submitted the Presidential Transition Bill to the House of Representatives for consideration and eventual enactment into law.
The President highlighted that the implementation of this bill would significantly reduce procedural errors and help avert potential national crises, noting that Liberia has experienced numerous democratic transitions without a standardized legal framework to guide them.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Joint Committee acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the National Democratic Institute of Liberia, local and international NGOs, the National Elections Commission, and civil society organizations, in supporting the review process.
