The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
Chairperson, Dr. Christopher Kalila, MP says speakers and
presiding officers play a vital role in upholding
constitutional order, safeguarding, parliamentary
independence, and ensuring that institutions of
parliament remain effective, inclusive and respected by
the citizens they serve. He was speaking this morning
during the official opening of the 28th Conference of
speakers and presiding officers of the Commonwealth
(CSPOC) in New Delhi, India.
Dr. Kalila further emphasized that Speakers and Presiding
officers are the glue that holds the CPA together, adding
that their commitment and dedication to the work of the
organisation is what drives and keeps the CPA relevant
among its member parliaments and at the global stage.
Speaking when he officially opened the conference, the
Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi also
emphasized the important role of Speakers and Presiding
Officers in parliamentary democracy.
The Prime Minister further highlighted that in India,
democracy delivers and that the country’s diversity is the
strength of their democracy. He cited the 2024 election
among others as an astounding example of India’s
working democracy which yielded 980 million registered
voters and the participation of over 700 political parties.
CSPOC is a conference that brings together the Speakers
and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth. The
conference aims to maintain, foster and encourage
impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and
Presiding Officers of Parliaments; to promote knowledge
and understanding of democracy in its various forms; and
to develop parliamentary intuitions.
The 28th CSPOC has attracted the highest number of
Speakers and of Presiding Officers in the history of
CSPOC.