The storm is gathering for the political contests of the Mid-term 2020 Senatorial Election, and the subsequent Presidential and Legislative Elections of 20203, with every opposition political party finding a shelter for political victory and participation in the ensuing processes. Far ahead, it was first the four opposition political parties that organized themselves into what is popularly known today as the Collaborating Political parties (CPP), which comprises the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the All-Liberia Party (ALP), the Liberty Party (LP) and the former ruling Unity Party (UP). The emergence of the CPP has since gained relevance on the national political landscape as the foremost contender of the ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). This proves that the operation of political parties as a coalition generates more strength, and has obviously culminated to the birth of a second alliance which said it aims at reducing proliferation of political parties and at the same time intends to go against the ruling CDC while operating as a single political unit named and styled, the “Rainbow Alliance;” The Analyst reports.
The emergence of political institutions to gain electoral victory was first tested by the Coalition Democratic Change which claimed the national leadership from the ruling Unity Party in the 2017 presidential race when the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of Mr. George Manneh Weah, the National Patriotic Party (NPP) of Jewel Howard Taylor and the Liberia People’s Democratic Party (LPDP) of Alex Tyler merged into a single unit at the polls.
Apparently drawing strength from these collaborations, and in keeping with their motto “STRENGTH IN UNITY”, the group of registered political parties that constitutes the Rainbow Alliance came together to forge a common front by building the political alliance. Members of the Rainbow Alliance include Victory for Change Party (VCP), Vision for Liberia Transformation Party (VOLT), Democratic Justice Party (DJP), Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) and Grassroots Democratic Party of Liberia (GDPL).
Others are Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC), Change Democratic Action (CDA), New Liberia Party (NLP), Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), People’s Unification Party (PUP), True Whig Party (TWP) and the Union of Liberian Democrats (ULD)
In their statement of DECLARATION OF INTENT to collaborate for the purpose of forming a political alliance, signatories to the declaration stated strength in unity is a model that generates collective actions, activities, individual enthusiasms, and promote widespread public admiration leading to reigniting a sense of political belonging and dedication to a common cause.
They said they are cognizant that the constitution of the Republic of Liberia guarantees freedom of association which accentuates association of individuals and/or groups of individuals to consult on their common good and for the good of the country.
In their statement issued in Monrovia over the weekend at the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Intent, the registered political parties noted that the polarity in actions and mode of engagement with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government by opposition political parties continues to present disincentives towards the achievement of their shared vision for good governance, democratic accountability, transparency and the economic emancipation of the bottom poor.
They are of the opinion that their split in actions in engaging the ruling CDC would also create huge voter apathy and public distrust in the working and operations of (their) political parties.
According to the preamble of the Declaration of Intent, members of the Rainbow Alliance said “…the call for pooling our efforts and resources will allow us to widen the space for marketing our ideas, and improving the atmosphere for political cooperation, that removes confusion from the minds of the people insofar as our electoral processes are concerned.”
They said therefore, combining their energies into a common political front is a call by the people of Liberia whose hopes and aspirations we must uphold at all times
“Our intent to form a political Alliance in light of the current national emergency must be seen as our expressed patriotic determination to consult on the common good of the country,” the Rainbow Alliance said.
The group maintained that they are at the same time keeping themselves duty bound to assist in the fight against the deadly Corona Virus Disease by working with the government, international partners and Liberians home and abroad, to ensure the containment and eradication of COVID-19.
Consistent with these ideals, “Now, therefore, we the undersigned registered political parties do hereby Proclaim and publish this Declaration of intent to collaborate and to further combine our individual and collective efforts, resources and expertise into a single political unit, to be named and styled: The Rainbow Alliance going forward,” the statement of intent signed by the 12 political parties said.
The political institutions, in their intent, stipulate that immediately after signing and publication of this Declaration of Intent, each chairperson of the undersigned registered political parties will within seven (7) working days proceed to obtain and present to the body a notarized Resolution from their respective National Executive Committees endorsing the Declaration of Intent, and further authorizing ratification of the Rainbow Alliance.
The Rainbow Alliance further acknowledge that the undersigned registered political parties will proceed expeditiously to develop and endorse the framework instruments and modalities to govern, administer, and operate the alliance.
The newly proclaimed group said it encourages and invites all other political parties who share similar democratic ideals and principles and desirous of collaborating to join our efforts, noting that the essence of this alliance is to ensure national inclusiveness, and to continue their common political energies into a single political front; this window of collaboration will remain open to all registered political parties of like minds, the statement concluded.
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