A New Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament is set to be elected later this month as the continental Legislative body prepares to resume normal Parliamentary activities after a troubled session last June.
This follows the intervention of the African Union in resolving the impasse which marred the elections of a new Bureau of the PAP held in Midrand, South Africa from May to June last year.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the legislative arm of the African Union (AU), is scheduled to hold an ordinary session from 27 June to 02 July 2022 at the Parliament’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
The main business on the agenda of the upcoming Session is the election of the new Bureau of the PAP, slated for 29 June 2022. The leadership of other structures of Parliament, including Permanent Committees and regional and thematic caucuses, will also be renewed during the Session.
The PAP is headed by a Bureau which consists of a President and 4 Vice-Presidents. The members of the Bureau represent the five regions of the continent. The Bureau is responsible for the management and administration of the affairs and facilities of Parliament and its organs among other responsibilities.
The Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security are expected to attend the upcoming election of the PAP Bureau Members, with the electoral process to be conducted and managed by the Office of the Legal Counsel.
Furthermore, Permanent Committees are expected to finalise and adopt workplans in line with the AU theme for 2022: ’’Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development.”
The resumption of parliamentary activities follows the Executive Council Decision (EX.CL/Dec.1294(XXXIX)) and subsequent policy decisions and consultations, which resolved the impasse that transpired among Parliamentarians during the proceedings of the Plenary on 31 May and 01 June 2021, as the PAP was looking to elect the President and Vice-Presidents of its Bureau.
Proceedings were suspended three times during the proceedings when delegates clashed over the election process of a new president. The contention was whether the presidency should move around in the different blocs of the continent on a rotational basis or not.
Several Parliamentarians from different countries will be sworn in as members of the PAP following elections in a number of African States and rotation within delegations.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com with additional files from the Pan-African Parliament
