Member of parliaments and constituencies
14 February, 2008 - 00:55
How can a member of parliament remain in close contact with constituencies while performing the majority of legislative duties in the capital?
I think this depends highly on the legislative schedule as well as the role of the legislator. In Morocco, where many members of Parliament divide their time between legislative duties and another occupation, it is perhaps more difficult to use spare time to interact with constituents. Maybe being a member of Parliament should be considered as a primary and lone occupation to allow members to spend more time in their constituency.
I think that engaging constituencies virtually is possible through candidate websites where constituents can submit comments / questions to MPs. This is obviously difficult in regions with high rates of poverty and illiteracy.
Is virtual participation a possibility, for those constituents who have Internet access?