Yemen: Bajmal forms government, al-Ahmar presides parliament, Saleh reminds: Democracy is bitter
Yemen, Politics, 5/12/2003

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called upon assigning Abdul Qader Bajmal to form a new government, and Sheikh Abdullah Hussein al-Ahmar the presidency of the new parliament for national cohesion between the authority and the opposition which ( the opposition) had accused the government of committing violations in the parliamentary elections in April, reminding that "democracy is bitter."

In a speech he delivered before the new parliament Saleh said "we stress the importance of national unity in the current phase between the authority and the opposition in order to withstand all sorts of challenges because Yemen is the Yemen of everyone." The Yemeni opposition parties had accused the general People's Congress party of committing violations upon selecting votes during the elections of April 27th. The ruling Congress Party achieved a great majority in the parliament by getting 237 seats out of 301 seats.

The Yemeni President said "we have committed to democracy as a national option that cannot be backtracked from. Democracy is taking and giving." Saleh on Saturday assigned the prime minister of the former government Abdul Qader Bajmal to form a new government "a technocratic government includes in its ranks young, and qualified young cadres."

He stressed that one of the government's priorities is to "continue efforts of economic and developmental building, financial and administrative dialogue and enhancing security in society." A governmental official said that Bajmal will hold consultations with Saleh concerning the new government which will be formed of members of the People's Congress conference the same as in the previous government.

The new parliament elected the chairman of the Yemeni coalition for reforms Sheikh Abdullah Hussein al-Ahmar as its chairman for the third running time. The parliament was held in the presence of 294 parliamentarians out of 301. Al-Ahmar was elected as the chairman and Yahya al-Rai from the People's General Congress as his deputy.

Previous Stories:
  USAID reopens mission in yemen   (5/3/2003)
  Yemeni president accepts resignation of Bajmal government   (5/2/2003)
  Congress party keeps majority at Yemeni parliament   (5/1/2003)

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