Thread by @aarudpra

What int media, local analysts & ‘experts’ seem to be getting wrong: 1) calling Pres AKD Marxist 2) calling the election victory a landslide 3) saying AKD is protectionist / pro import-substitution / wants to ⬆️ domestic production 4) Assuming AKD is or will act in a racist way

Most of these assumptions seem to be based on a reading of the JVP’s past. But there is a danger in overstating or extrapolating history to make assumptions about how policymakers will act. This is esp true since the JVP now exists within a broader coalition called the NPP.

A lot of these assumptions also come directly from opposition propaganda — the negative marketing and fear mongering campaigns run about the NPP during the presidential campaigns.

Many making these remarks clearly have not looked at the NPP’s manifesto / the policy plan presented to clergy, public etc This manifesto has indicated that the NPP will open up economy, stick to IMF program (considered ‘neoliberal’) abolish the exec presidency, repeal PTA, etc

Ofc policymakers can deviate from their manifestos and often they do. But the President is also facing constraints re IMF program & will face significant pressure from India, China, economists, if they deviate from their economic proposals.

Since the NPP / AKD has never been President, there is a bit of uncertainty — it’s okay to admit that!! And thats why waiting to watch first steps is so important. First steps may also indicate how the NPP will prioritize the many policies in their manifesto.

There can be danger in pre-writing a narrative for someone without knowing how he / she may act. Some Tamils have also been very concerned about how AKD will perform — but, like Tamils, isn’t he intimately familiar with how state violence can be abused? With the excesses of PTA?

There is a lot that we don’t know & can’t assume. And there are at least three other stakeholders whose impact on the JVP / NPP today will be critical to observe: impact of other JVP party members, impact of newly elected parliamentarians, impact of public / voter expectations.

Particularly annoyed that some American media outlets have called the President a “populist.” Since when is legalising safe abortion & increasing female representation in politics in #lka populist? Parachute journalism is so corrosive 😩

Here is a good article by J Uyangoda that maps out the several transmutations of the JVP, notably the influence of the economic crisis & Aragalaya + its evolution into the NPP, making it more difficult than usual to predict future behaviour from past.

https://twitter.com/bimalrathnayake/status/1838832904593662238