Assuming The Bhutto Throne

A political party is not a monarchy. Successors are not named in democratic political parties simply because of blood association. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with regards to the PPP in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s death. Her son, a mere 19-year-old, as been named the de facto leader of the party, but (get this) will not assume that role until he is finished school in the UK. Until that time, his father, the notoriously corrupt Asif Ali Zardari will act as the day-to-day party leader.

Both of Bhutto’s children, who, until now, did not share the same last name as their mother, have also taken it. Thus, it’s now 19-year-old ‘Bilawal Bhutto’.

It gets even better, of course. How could it not…

“Sitting between his father and Mr Fahim, Bilawal himself said his father would run the party while he was away at university.

“When I return, I promise to lead the party as my mother wanted me to,” he said.

But Mr Zardari blocked any further reporters’ questions to Bilawal, saying that although party chairman, he was still of “tender age”.

Here’s the deal. If you’re to be named the leader of a political party, your dad shouldn’t have to run interference for you at press conferences. And if the family is still in mourning, don’t put your son in front of the media.

This is nothing more than a pathetic play on sympathy for the purposes of retaining political significance because of a last name. Not only that, it is entirely undemocratic in the sense that it does not best serve the aspirations of the public supporters of the party itself, who should, by all rights, be up in arms about this decision.

In a democratic political party, I was under the impression that new leaders were voted in by that party’s membership, not merely appointed because who the last party leader chose to succeed them after their death. Even more, that a single family would have that luxury within what is supposed to be a democratic party.

Like it or not, that is not democratic whatsoever, and it certainly shines some light on what Ms. Bhutto’s view of democracy actually was.