Explore the Role of Political Parties
Discover the essence of democracy and the pivotal role political parties play in shaping our nation’s future. Learn how political parties provide choices for voters and influence governance and policy-making. Join us in understanding the importance of citizen participation in political parties.
What is a Political Party?
A political party is an organisation of people who share the same opinions, principles and aspirations regarding how a society should be managed. They agree on their vision for the country and wish to implement this by obtaining power through elections. If a person agrees with the ideas of the party he or she can choose to join, become a member and help the party grow bigger and stronger to have a better chance to win a majority in elections and gain power in the government.
Joining a party allows members of the public to become active participants in the political life of the country and influence the way it is governed. Political parties play an important role in a democratic system. A developed democracy has different political parties that have a wide variety of ideas and ways in which they would run the country if they gained power. This is known as democratic “plurality,” meaning citizens have a variety of options when comes to choosing a party that best represents their own ideas and values.
A political party should have what is known as a “programme.” This is a sort of road map that lays out what the party stands for and the actions it would take if it is in power. It is important to understand the programme of a political party so that you as a voter have a chance to choose which one is closest to your way of thinking about what is most important for the country.
Even if leaders are important, a political party’s main asset are the ideas and policies shared by its members. The party should remain true to its values and visions and be there to serve the interests of the people.
Qualities of a Political Party
The Political Party Integrity Act describes some of the qualities that should be demonstrated by all political parties in Solomon Islands. They include respect for:
Functions, duties and responsibilities of Political Parties
Political parties play an important role in a democracy. Political parties provide a link between the citizens and the government. The objective of a political party is to be in power in order to implement its vision for the country. Political parties give the country direction. When a political party wins in an election, it gains power and joins in government. Its ideas, policies and strategies can be implemented.
A political party must be registered with the PPC before it can present candidates to stand for election. The party chooses people from among its registered members to become candidates. A political party should do this democratically and fairly. During the campaign for elections, the candidates represent the party and what it stands for. As election time draws near, the party should publish the main ideas in its programme and make its intentions clear to voters. This is known as the “manifesto.” The candidates use the party’s colours and symbols during their public rallies. They uphold the party’s manifesto and promise to do what it says.
A political party should be inclusive and ensure everyone in society is represented among its members, including women in sufficient numbers, as well as youth, People with Disabilities (PWDs) and marginalized groups.It should include proposals on how to resolve the problems and challenges faced by the people.
It should also include what plans the party has for promoting the development of the country. The manifesto allows voters to decide if the party’s ideas are close to their own thinking and if they are convinced willing to vote for it.
In Solomon Islands, there are many political parties. When a political party receives the vote of many citizens, it can win a big enough majority and become the ruling party. Often, the number of votes is not sufficient to form a government with just one party and political parties have to establish agreements to govern jointly with another. This is called a Coalition Government.
Political parties must earn the trust of the people by living up to their promises and delivering what they said they would do in their manifesto. Parties must behave with integrity and honesty. The PPC is responsible for ensuring political parties behave in accordance with the Integrity Standards in the PPIA. If they don’t, the PPC could decide to cancel the party’s registration.
Integrity Standards for a Political Party
Here are the key standards to adhere to as a political party:
Structure of a Political Party: Executive & Leadership
All parties must fulfil a certain number of obligations in terms of how they are structured in order to be considered a proper party and be able to apply for registration. In particular, the party executive must include the following positions:
When a political party has succeeded in having members elected to the National Parliament, it must appoint someone at the party leader if one is not already named.