ADNews-Monrovia: Following the Supreme Court order to have the Legislature return to the status quo, the Senate leadership has reportedly decided not to submit any legislative instruments to the House of Representatives until the ongoing court proceedings are resolved.
This decision was reportedly reached during a leadership meeting held before the start of the Senate session on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
The disclosure of this latest information came from Montserrado County Senators Saah Joseph and Darius Dillon during inquiry.
In response to public reports suggesting that the Senate has resumed legislative business with the majority, the two Senators clarified that this is not the case. They explained that the legislative instruments were submitted to the Chief Clerk’s office and received by the Acting Clerk, who subsequently communicated with the majority.
The instruments submitted to the Chief Clerk’s office include the Seaport Decentralization Act and the Maritime Law, among others.
Few days ago, the Supreme Court of Liberia issued an immediate ruling ordering the self-proclaimed Majority Bloc, which sought the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, to cease all actions and restore the status quo in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.
In its decision, the Court placed a stay on all proceedings that led to the controversial takeover by the so-called Majority Bloc within the House of Representatives. The bloc’s actions, which have been deemed a serious threat to national security, have sparked widespread concern across the country. The resulting situation has created a political crisis, with Liberia now facing a scenario in which two individuals claim to hold the position of Speaker simultaneously.
The Court condemned the actions of the Majority Bloc while public view it as chaotic and irresponsible, warning that such behavior could push the country back into a dark era reminiscent of past political instability. The decision has drawn criticism, with many labeling the bloc’s actions as a form of political terrorism aimed at undermining the democratic process.
Furthermore, the Court instructed the Minister of Justice and the members of the House of Representatives involved to submit their official responses to the Court’s writ by November 26, 2024, at the office of the Clerk of the Honorable Court.
While removing the Speaker in Liberia’s political history is not unprecedented, the self-proclaimed Majority Bloc’s actions have raised alarms about the potential erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law in the country.
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