General election on its way
Friday 21st January 2011, 2:58PM GMT.
Privileges Committee chairman Juliette Gallichan (left) with other Members on their way to the sitting
TWO Senators seats will be cut at the October elections and every States Member will be up for election on the same day by 2014 under reform plans agreed yesterday.
Under the proposals, the four Senators elected this year will serve a three-year term, setting up a full general election for a reduced States Chamber of eight Senators, 12 Constables and 29 Deputies in 2014.
After 2014, the next set of States Members will serve a three-and-a-half year term to shift the elections to the spring, and after that all terms will move to four years.
States Members agreed the main reform proposals – brought by the Privileges and Procedures Committee, and amended by Senator Philip Ozouf – yesterday, after three days of debate.
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This should happen it makes sense, wont keep on having that old boys net work that rules the States, and that also block new electors ideas.
One General Election for all on the same day preferable a weekend allowing more people to get out and vote
But I bet this will not happen, the old boys net work will NO NO this proposition.
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A step in the right direction, well done states members something good for the future.
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FB…it’s done and dusted … the Senators, bar two, tried to to wreck the reforms but failed.
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Witless.
We have too many politicians and they are almost all of a low calibre. This simply increases the importance of the deputies and constables, who are generally elected by small turnouts in small areas. And it is corrupt and undemocratic for self-interest to be the primary motivation behind a politician’s actions.
This is the opposite of democracy. It is a disgrace.
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no 4 i agree with every one of your comments iwould just like to add which i am sure you meant to mention LETS HAVE AN ISLAND WIDE MANDATE it realy does not mater what you call the members just as long as the whole island has a chance to vote for them
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It is wrong, in a democracy, for sitting politicians to change the composition of the legislature without putting the question to a referendum.
Without such a safeguard, there is nothing to prevent politicians from deciding (for example) that their terms should be altered to allow them to remain in position for life, or manipulating the electoral framework in any other way designed to ensure their own survival.
Irrespective of whether Senators/the Island-wide mandate are a good thing, the decision which has been taken is profoundly undemocratic.
I rarely agree with the JEP, but on this occasion they are right to be appalled at what has happened, and to challenge it.
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The General Election is spot on! All voting on the same day.
The reduction in Senators is dreadful! I don’t understand why more people aren’t upset about it.
The first time that we have an election on a single day – this October – we can only elect FOUR people with an Island wide mandate. So, we will each be able to vote for 4 Senators, 1 Constable and between 1 and 4 Deputies – depending on district. Out of 51! How is that going to achieve change???
It’s not the Senators that tried to wreck the reforms – it’s the Deputies that won’t reduce in number and know they wouldn’t be elected if they had to stand on an island wide basis.
We’ve each lost 2 representatives and there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do about it.
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Sorry to make clear, the part accepted as being for the good of the voters is voting for all on candidates on the same day. The JEP article is actually very balanced (for a change ) in highlighting the undemocratic stance of an island Government that likes to call itself democratic but falls woefully short in the true meaning of the word.
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(5) and (6) could not agree more , let the public decide .
on the other hand , for a quick solution adopt “clothier” job done .
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“there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do about it”
Maybe, maybe not. Watch this space.
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Harry (7) How is that going to achieve change???
That the point Harry, it will not achieve change; the Walker reforms saw to that!
20 working senators and bin the rest!
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The connetables should be got rid off they can get in unelected which is undemocratic. All in the states should have an island wide mandate and the 5 unelected should also be given retirement. It is time for Jersey to be dragged into the 21st century.
As all will be up for election in 2014 hopefully more of the establishment candidates will be removed to make the states a more balanced place.
It would also be good if the electorate were to remember election promises made and any who have strayed, or as some would put it lied to the electorate to get in, should be given the Spanish Robin Hood.
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