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Commitment To Process

The outcome of the US presidential election shows that the process is more important than the result

By KESHAB POUDEL

When vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore expressed total commitment to the democratic process while congratulating his rival and president-elect George W. Bush for his victory in one of the closely contested elections in US history, leaders in the ruling Nepali Congress were challenging the very basis of democracy.

Even the main opposition party CPN-UML can take a leaf from the US elections -- that commitment to the constitutional process is more important than constitutional amendment.

President-elect Bush : Words of reconciliation

Even after such a bitterly contested election, no political leader blamed the five-week impasse on the more than 200-year-old constitution.

As Nepal is in the process of learning the intricacies of democracy, the country's political leaders should take the US presidential election as the lesson. Instead of taking to the streets, burning effigies of leaders and judges, smashing shop windows and setting fire to vehicles, US leaders followed the peaceful path of challenging the result in court.

"We have to learn the importance of rule of law in settling every issue, including political problems. Americans found the solution to the impasse in the rule of law. We need to follow the Americans," said advocate Sunil Adhikary.

Political scientists agree that faith in state institutions would strengthen the democratic process.

"We need to strengthen democratic institutions like the Election Commission, courts and other bodies," said Pannakazi Amatya, head of the Political Science Department of Tribhuvan University.

Had the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the recounts, Vice-President Gore would have won the elections. But maintaining his disagreement over the Supreme Court decision, Gore congratulated Bush.

"Just a moment ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. I offered to meet him as soon as possible, so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign, and the contest through which we have just passed. Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly, neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came. And now it has ended, resolved as it must be resolved - through the honored institutions of our democracy," said Gore in his statement.

Vice President Gore : Pledge of support

"While I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome... And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome."

President-elect Bush, too, had words of reconciliation. "I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver. Together, guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common goals, we can unite and inspire the American citizens. Together we will work to make all our public schools excellent, teaching every student of every background and every accent, so that no child is left behind," said Bush.

Democracy can survive only in national unity and prosperity. If political leaders do not have deep faith in the process, democracy cannot function. In a democracy, a candidate needs to have patience and respect for the court -- like Vice-President Gore.