Hours after President Donald Ramotar issued the proclamation to prorogue the Parliament, the opposition parties declared that democracy was under threat and warned of the country sliding into a state of dictatorship.
Both the main opposition APNU and the AFC called on President Ramotar to reconsider his decision, while urging citizens not to take the decision sitting down.
By issuing the proclamation, President Ramotar won his government a reprieve from the passage of a no-confidence against it in the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which would have effectively forced its collapse and the holding of new general elections in three months. However, with this latest move, the President can continue to govern—albeit without the input of the legislative arm of the government—and may, as some have hinted, prorogue again after reconvening the Assembly and buying some more time for his presidency.
