Right on concept of ‘Deemed Elected’

Jun 13, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Jagdeo is right to use the term ‘Deemed President”. The outcome of the election is not official until so declared by the Chair of GECOM, which would not happen perhaps until after or on June 16. But in political science, the term used for the winner of an election until such time he or she has been sworn in is ‘President Elect’ or ‘President Presumed’ or ‘Deemed President’. That is the norm in every country with a Presidential system. They are honorific titles used right after an election once the votes are counted. The incumbent is referred to as ‘outgoing’ or ‘lame duck’ and in the US, the norm is he gracefully bows out.
The terms became popular in the US going back to November 1980 after the election of Ronald Reagan. I was a Biochem major but taking a political science course as well and remember the history well. Jimmy Carter, the man who saved Guyana’s democracy in October 1992, instantly became a lame duck the evening of the election, and the front page of papers had landslide and President Elect Reagan. (It is hoped that Carter or some other respected elder may not be needed to save democracy now given rumour mills of resistance to the recount that showed Dr. Irfaan Ali as being the winner).
Jagdeo is right to flash Deemed President because Ali had the most votes and the constitution does say the candidate with the most votes wins the Presidency and forms the government.
For those of us who study political science, the terms President Elect, or Presumed President, or Deemed President are appropriately used. In any law abiding country, a candidate that wins an election right after the count is considered to have been elected (President Elect or Deemed President) until such time that an election body or a court says otherwise. The outgoing President (incumbent), also known as a lame duck and or the candidates he (she) defeated offer congratulations and they may exchange pleasantries. A transition team is put in place for the inevitable transfer of power. Only power grabbers would want to stay on after defeat in an election.
Guyana is not Kenya or Zimbabwe or some other banana republic where Presidents who lost elections refused to concede or want to have it redone. A respected President does not seek a re-run after losing an election. It is indisputable from the recount that Ali won the Presidency. The counting and recounting were transparent. The whole world accepts that the PPP won the elections. Ali is therefore President Elect or Deemed President, as Jagdeo correctly concluded. The opposition parties have rightly congratulated the PPP for the victory and many people have been appropriately using the term President Elect in referring to Ali. When GECOM makes it official and after Ali is sworn in, he becomes President.
Social and political conditions have been very tense in Guyana over the last four months. The outcome is inevitable. The country needs to exhale. The election conclusively decides the government. The opposition has won. To reduce tensions, President Granger should phone Ali and offer congrats for a well-fought campaign and let us bring this process to a closure.
Mr. President, please don’t expend energy to avoid the inevitable. You have played your innings. Given your age and health challenges, spend more time with your lovely family. Behave responsibly! Concede power! Bow out gracefully! Congratulate your challenger!
Let’s all (coalition and opposition supporters) work together to build Guyana into a modern, democratic state that rivals Singapore, Taiwan, and Dubai in development.
I wish the very best to outgoing President Granger and his family and incoming President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his family and the PPP team.

Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram