CPA chairperson, Kalila, highlights crucial role of speakers in protecting parliamentary democracy

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Chairperson, Dr. Christopher Kalila, says Speakers of National Assemblies and Presiding Officers play a critical role in upholding constitutional order, safeguarding democratic values and ensuring the independence of parliaments across the Commonwealth.

Kalila noted that Speakers and Presiding Officers ensure that parliamentary institutions remain effective, inclusive and respected by the citizens they serve.

He was speaking on Thursday morning during the official opening of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, India.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka by Nshamba Mzungu, Senior Media Liaison Officer at the National Assembly of Zambia, CSPOC brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the Commonwealth.

The conference aims to foster impartiality and fairness among parliamentary leaders, promote understanding of democracy in its various forms and strengthen parliamentary institutions.

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Kalila further emphasized that Speakers and Presiding Officers form the glue that holds the CPA together, explaining that their commitment and dedication help keep the Association relevant both among member parliaments and on the global stage.

Speaking when he officially opened the conference, India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also underscored the important role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in parliamentary democracy.

Modi said democracy in India “delivers” and that the country’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths.

He cited the 2024 election as a remarkable demonstration of India’s democratic system, pointing to the participation of 980 million registered voters and more than 700 political parties.

This year’s 28th CSPOC meeting has attracted the highest number of Speakers and Presiding Officers in the history of the conference, marking a significant milestone in Commonwealth parliamentary engagement.

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