Hussen’s government won its confidence vote by only the margin of one retracted vote

Evidence

As the roll was called, opposition and government supporters stood even at fiftyseven each. The last name to be called was Ali Mohamed Hirabe, a former minister and a member of the opposition. He said yes first but quickly retracted and cast a negative vote. Government supporters tried to contest the retraction, but the prime minister designate intervened and spoke to the chamber: My friend Ali was pro-Italian during the trusteeship, then he joined SYL, became a minister in the previous government, and then I removed him from that post. He has been a yes-man all his life, and his chance to say no today was betrayed by his yes habit. Since my government’s fate depends on his vote, I want the president of the chamber to count Ali’s vote as negative, so he could be liberated today. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 748

Categorization

• CANDY: Hussen’s witty speech to the chamber over the yes-man’s retracted vote is a memorable, quotable moment.