Defection of UDM MP - media statement issued by UDM President (1 September 2005)

The UDM has taken note of Mr M Stephens’ defection to the DA. The DA are opportunists and hypocrites of the worst order for claiming that floor-crossing is being abused by the ANC, yet they continue to actively seek floor-crossers. The DA should stop claiming that they are opposed to the abuse of floor-crossing when they have actively assisted the ANC in passing this despicable legislation and to this day continue to use it to gain seats which the electorate never entrusted to them. The time has arrived for the Van Zyl Slabbert Commission findings on the electoral system, which was suppressed by the ANC, to be implemented because this floor-crossing is becoming an embarrassment to the nation. If there was a constituency-based electoral system that triggered by-elections when public representatives defected, then people like Mr Stephens and any other fortune-seekers or gold-diggers would have to face their voters. In the meanwhile as long as we persist with a proportional representation electoral system, floor-crossing must be banned.

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