In an unprecedented move that has left constitutional experts reeling, the House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution seeking to retroactively legalize all actions taken by the once-contested “Majority Bloc”, including the controversial passage of the 2025 National Budget.
The resolution, introduced on the House floor by Chief Clerk Mildred Siryon, directly challenges a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Liberia which declared the actions of the “Majority Bloc” unconstitutional. The high court had determined that the group, which previously claimed majority leadership, acted without legitimate authority.
Yet, in what appears to be a bold pushback against judicial oversight, lawmakers voted in unison to grant legal legitimacy to all decisions made by the bloc during the disputed period. In effect, the Legislature has attempted to override the Supreme Court’s judgment through legislative means, a move that constitutional lawyers say could upend the country’s democratic checks and balances.
“This is a clear overreach,” said Cllr. Taiwan Gongloe, a prominent constitutional lawyer and former presidential candidate. “You cannot sanitize illegality with a resolution. If that were possible, what then is the use of our Constitution or the Supreme Court?”
Gongloe further warned that the attempt to validate the 2025 National Budget without re-engaging the public through a proper hearing process undermines both transparency and public participation, which are constitutionally guaranteed components of national budget formulation.
The resolution’s passage also raises troubling questions about the independence of the three branches of government and whether the House has now positioned itself above the judiciary. Legal experts are calling the move not just unconstitutional, but dangerous, as it sets a precedent that legislative bodies can nullify judicial rulings at will.
“Is it really that easy to legalize unconstitutional actions in Liberia?” one Capitol observer asked rhetorically. “All it takes now is a resolution and a signature?”
The controversial resolution is now headed to the Liberian Senate, commonly referred to as the House of Elders, where its fate remains uncertain. Political analysts and civil society actors are watching closely to see whether the Senate will follow suit or assert constitutional restraint.
In a country still healing from decades of civil unrest and democratic fragility, the resolution strikes at the core of Liberia’s evolving governance architecture.
As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: Liberia’s constitutional order is being tested, and the outcome could redefine the balance of power between the branches of government.
