早前,国务资政兼国家安全统筹部长张志贤在国会指出,展延大选至超过规定期限有违宪法;也指组成看守政府建议“显得对宪法缺乏理解”。 对此,新加坡前进党秘书长陈清木医生录视频作出回应,并指张志贤“误解了他的重点”,并提出疫情当前和无法举行大选将面对的“宪政问题”,孰轻孰重?“答案是很明显的,我们讨论的是生死存亡的问题,人命关天,一定要把全部的精力和资源,用来对抗疫情。” 他指政府应集中精力,在未来12个月做好防疫、解决当前迫切的公共健康危机,确保国人的安全。 他也比喻,船固然需要船长掌舵,但如果过去数月我们有学到什么,那就是当船上的人都病了、疫情还在扩散,要找到避风港将是漫长的。 “在这情况下,480亿元的坚韧团结配套,恐怕将成徒劳。” 部长、各部门、医疗体系已面对重大压力 选举的时机可以等待,陈清木认为,当前部长和各部门所承受的压力已经很大了。如果现在还要选举,他们就得一心多用,还得确保如何安全地进行选举。 “关键是如何选择,如果尽早大选,将冒着让260万人口面对感染病毒的风险,将形成严重的公共健康危机。” 张志贤也提到,尽早选举让国人决定谁将领导国人未来,“但他(张志贤)能接受尽早选举,意味着让更多国人面对感染的风险?在医疗系统已面对重压的情况下,这是他愿意承担的风险吗?” 他直言,待疫情减缓后再选举,绝不是幻想而是客观的判断。“疫苗已在加紧研制,也加倍落实社会防疫措施,却越趋见效。” 他也指出,全球已加大抗疫力度,中国也是很好的例子,说明未来情况好转是可预期的,国人已被给予机会,等待疫情结束才选举。 即时无法如期大选,仍有法律应对情况 “即便我的预测错误、疫情变得严重,致使政府无法再2021年4月大选,仍有法律应对紧急情况,例如紧急(基本权力)法。” 他提及,上述法律第二条阐明,“总统可以制定他认为在确保公共安全保护新加坡,维护公共秩序以及对社区生活至关重要的物资、服务方面认为可取或权益性的任何规定,在本法中称为基本规定。” 宪政问题可克服 故此,对应的法律已经存在。唯一的问题是,总统将如何履行他的权力?这里要面对的风险是宪政问题,那就是到底看守政府能否成立,但是宪政问题不会把病毒传给人、不会夺走身边亲友的生命,宪政问题是可克服的。 “所以,我们面对的抉择是:尽早大选导致严重公共健康危机,或者延后到2021年,面对可能无法大选的宪政问题。那么答案是很显然对,我们是在讨论生死攸关的问题。” 陈清木也列出那些在疫情肆虐下,展延选举的国家。 “我不会草率提供意见,不过我们面对生死存亡时刻,让我们作出正确决定,选择百姓生命而不是政治。” 在陈清木列出的清单中,就包括美国俄亥俄州、乔治亚州、肯德基州等八州的总统初选;意大利减少国会议席的公投;玻利维亚原定在今年3月和5月进行的选举;斯里兰卡大选、法国地方议会选举等。
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