Parliament said on Thursday it would abide by a Constitutional Court ruling on whether or not MPs can vote in secret in a motion of no confidence in the president. The court found that it was up to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to decide for or against a secret ballot. Mbete had argued that she had no such authority. Opposition parties have celebrated the ruling that Mbete has the constitutional power to prescribe a secret ballot in a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma. UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said that his party has been vindicated and is pleased that members of parliament will now be "constitutionally free" to vote with their conscience. "The UDM is vindicated because we asked the Speaker to use her prerogative‚ but she put the interests of her political party ahead of parliament. This judgment also means that the threats which have been issued by Zuma and others ... fall flat now. "Those MPs are free to vote and follow their conscience. The UDM as wel...
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