Monrovia – All eyes today will be on the Capitol, the seat of the Legislature as the House of Representatives which has seen intense fighting over efforts by some lawmakers to remove Speaker Alex Tyler see the return of last Thursday’s tense events which saw heavy police presence and acrimonious exchanges between lawmakers.
Tension is expected to return to the House of Representatives today as the body continues the in-house fighting which has now seen two separate gatherings of lawmakers- one under the gavel of Speaker Alex Tyler and another headed Deputy Speaker Hans Barchue and the dice is cast as to who will succeed in the long running debacle
The divided House of Representatives saw two separate sessions Thursday with the ‘majority’ lawmakers using the joint chambers of the Legislature to hold session while Speaker Tyler and his pro lawmakers used the regular place where the plenary of the body conducts session.
For many of the Anti-Tyler lawmakers, Speaker Tyler’s reign is nearing an end and he may not continue as Speaker after today’s activities at the Capitol. “No turning back, Tyler will go”, George Mulbah (National Patriotic Party, Bong County) said Sunday while speaking at a school in Monrovia.
Other anti-Tyler lawmakers including Gabriel Smith, Acarous Gray have all vowed that the standout at the House Representatives must come to an end with Speaker Tyler out of the way.
But the defiant Speaker maintains that the action of his colleagues to hold separate session is illegal and he has moved the Supreme Court to prohibit their action.
Speaker Tyler moved to the Supreme Court praying for a Writ of Prohibition to prevent the lawmakers from using the joint chambers to hold session.
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Speaker Tyler stated “the conduct of the respondents in illegally and unlawfully convening a meeting in the Joint Chambers of the National Legislature for the purpose of ousting and removing petitioner, J. Alex Tyler from the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives in violation of both the constitution of the Republic of Liberia and the House Standing Rules of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia”.
One pro-Tyler lawmaker has boasted that once the Supreme Court grants the Writ of Prohibition, the contending lawmakers will be legally compelled to come under the gavel of Speaker Tyler and disciplinary action will be taken against at least ten of the ringleaders to scare others to abandon their anti-Tyler campaign.
On the other side of the debate, one anti-Tyler lawmaker declared that even before the Supreme Court reviews the petition for writ of prohibition filled by Speaker Tyler, the Speaker will be no longer be a Speaker.
“I can tell you that Tyler will not even be Speaker when the Supreme Court makes a determination on his writ of prohibition, he is day dreaming”, the lawmaker who said he did not want to be named only because of his comment on petition before the Supreme Court.
Nathaniel McGill, Chairman of the opposition CDC says there is no legal basis for asking Speaker Tyler to recuse himself.
“We cannot take a side if we do that we lose our independence to mediate or bring peace. We want to take a leadership role to mediate especially where the Presidents herself is being accused,” McGill told FPA.
Which way today?
With the Supreme Court yet to decide on the petition for a Wirt of Prohibition filed by Speaker Tyler, it is expected that today will be another chaotic day at the Capitol or even worse than the last event especially where both sides are firmed on their respective positions.
Without a prohibition against their gathering, the anti-Tyler lawmakers might opt to use their usual joint Chambers for session, creating a difficult situation as what the both parties will be deliberating.
The anti-Tyler lawmaker, according to sources, have communicated to the Executive Mansion and other stakeholders that they are the legitimate representation of the House of Representatives, commanding official communications to the body be submitted to them.
The ongoing debacle has already stalled the working of the House of Representatives for a long period with the body unable to continue the holding of budget hearings and the Cabinet issued a caution to all officials of the Executive to remain neutral in the entire process.
Cabinet members have been told to stay out of the unfolding in the House of Representatives until the impasse is resolved.
The Cabinet statement indicates that it does not recognize any of the two parties-Speaker Tyler and the ‘majority’ lawmakers and it is unclear which way any cabinet member will address a communication intended for the House of Representatives.
Speaker Tyler has already accused Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of allegedly supporting the ploy to unseat him even though the Executive Mansion has refuted such claims.
Representative Samuel Woleh, (NUDP District 3 Nimba County) has claimed that he received money to sign the anti-Tyler resolution, saying he was fooled by one of his colleagues in believing that the amount was a gift from the Presidents in celebration of July 26 independence.
More anti-Tyler exodus?
On late Monday, FPA gathered that three more lawmakers have defected from the pro-Tyler group, joining the ‘majority’ bloc.
One highly placed source indicated that Matthew Zazar and two other lawmakers all staunch supporters of Speaker Tyler have shifted the other way, even though the lawmakers could not be reached as constant calls did not yield fruits.
Some ruling party lawmakers are said to have also moved the opposite way, thereby increasing the number of the anti-Tyler lawmakers.
Negotiating exit
Legislative sources have also hinted FPA that negotiations are ongoing for Speaker Tyler to resign and be given some preference by his colleagues.
As part of the reported deal, the lawmakers are opting to allow Speaker Tyler manage the budget for the office of the Speaker-over US$1 million.
Speaker Tyler is also said to be pushing for Representative Wesseh Blamo to succeed him as Speaker, one of his closest allies at the House Representatives.
Several lawmakers are believed to be against Speaker Tyler’s choice of successor as they are instead opting for Deputy Speaker Barchue to take over.
The lawmakers are expected to leave for their usual annual agriculture break at the end of August and the prevailing situation will prevent the passage into law of the national budget for 2016/2017, which could create serious economic and financial consequences for the country.
By law when the National budget is not passed into law by the Legislature, all entities with allotment in the budget are only allowed to expend one-twelfth of their budget for the previous fiscal year.
Due to the ongoing debacle, should the lawmakers leave from their agriculture break, it would be difficult to have them returned to deliberate and pass the budget.