What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in _________________________.

In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in _________________________.

October 1999

He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ___________ of the country. Later he changed his designation to President and in ________held a referendum in the country that granted him a ___________ extension.

‘Chief Executive’, 2002, five-year

In ______________ he issued a ______________________ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.

August 2002, ‘Legal Framework Order’

Why is Pakistan under General Parvez Musharraf not considered a democracy?

• People may have elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but those elected representatives were not really the rulers. They cannot take the final decisions.

• The power to take final decision rested with army officials and with General Musharraf, and none of them were elected by the people.

• There was a formally elected parliament and government but the real power was with those who were not elected.

Chinese Parliament

National People’s Congress

Role of National People’s Congress

• The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country.

• It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the army.

Elections in China

• Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.

• Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002-03.

• The government is always formed by the Communist Party.

Elections in Mexico

• Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President.

• The country has never been under a military or dictator’s rule.

• But until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).

• Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win.

Dirty Tricks used by PRI

The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections.

• All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.

• Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.

• Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them.

• Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes.

• The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.

Unfair Voting Rights

• Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia women did not have the right to vote.

• Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.

• In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

Unfair Practices used by ZANU-PF

• Zimbabwe, since independence 1980 in has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle by its leader, Robert Mugabe.

• Elections were held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF. President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair practices in elections.

  • Over the years his government changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.

  • Opposition party workers were harassed and their meeting disrupted.

  • Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal.

  • There was a law that limited the right to criticize the President.

  • Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party’s version. There were independent newspapers but the government harassed those journalists who went against it.

  • The government ignored some court judgments that went against it and pressurized judges. He was forced out of office in 2017.

Features of Democracy

• Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions;

• Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers;

• This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis; and

• The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights.