Members from the NDC’s State-Building Working Group have presented documents which address the structure and electoral system of Yemen’s future state. The work papers presented at the group’s Tuesday meeting focused on standards for selecting an electoral system and a comparison of two main electoral systems.

Group member Nehal Al-Awlaki said it was difficult to select a system based proportional representation at this time in Yemen because Yemen’s people – particularly those who live in the countryside - have long been used to voting for candidates on the bases of trust, reputation and personal connections.

“In spite of its merits, proportional representation is not a good fit for Yemen,” she said.

Bilqis Al-Abdali suggested that women should be given at least a 30% representation quota.

For her part, Thurraya Dammaj said in her paper on the state structure that federalism was the most suitable option for Yemen.

“I recommend a focus on the principles of the best federal system, one which can ensure the effective independence of, and participation in, federal regions,” she said.    

The Group’s members agreed that Yemen’s constitution and electoral system must be amended in order for citizens’ aspirations to be met.

During Tuesday’s Rights and Freedoms Working Group meeting, Lawyer Ahmed Al-Wad’e delivered a lecture on holes in the Yemeni constitution and possible remedies for such deficiencies.

The Group’s members discussed what the lawyer had presented, as well as how they could best benefit from his suggestions.

Following the lecture, the Group continued to discuss the constitutional experiences of other nations. A discussion was also held on proposed field visits to locations in the capital city of Sana’a.

The group also heard from a former political detainee, who spoke about the violations which had been committed against him.