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Latest update: 16/01/2011
- DR Congo - elections - Joseph Kabila
Disputed voting reforms expected to favour DR Congo incumbent president
Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament approved several controversial voting reforms Saturday, which are expected to boost President Joseph Kabila's chances of re-election in the fall, after opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote in protest.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament approved controversial voting reforms on Saturday expected to boost incumbent President Joseph Kabila's chances of re-election in November.
A joint sitting of the central African state's lower and upper house backed eight changes to the constitution, including a move to reduce the vote to a single round from two -- meaning the next president can be elected without an absolute majority.
The measures were passed easily by a show of hands after opposition lawmakers boycotted the sitting as a protest. Out of 504 that voted, 485 were in favour, eight were against and 11 abstained.
Kabila has cited the row after Ivory Coast's two-round vote as justification for avoiding a run-off -- an argument rejected by opponents who threaten street protests against the move.
The new rules will mean that whoever gets the highest score in a sole round of voting will become president regardless of their score. Under a two-round system the top two must battle it out in a run-off if no candidate gets an absolute majority.
While some of Kabila's opponents might have thrown their weight behind whoever of them made it into the run-off, it is unclear how many are ready to sacrifice their own ambitions to back a unified opposition candidate in a single-round vote.
The reforms also postpone plans to increase the number of provinces in the country to 26 from 11, an already overdue move to decentralise power away from the government in Kinshasa.
Other changes will see the prosecutor's office placed under the Justice Ministry -- a change some argue will undermine its independence -- and give the president the power to call referendums, dissolve provincial assemblies and fire governors.
Kabila came to power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent. He led a transitional government in 2003 following the end of a vicious civil war that left some five million people dead.
In 2006 he won the country's first ever democratic vote, beating Jean Pierre Bemba in a second round run off which was marred by clashes between rival supporters when more than three hundred people were killed in the capital.
Since then the country has attracted growing numbers of international investors keen to exploit the vast mineral resources there, including a $6 billion mining and infrastructure deal with China.
But despite relative stability and economic growth, Kabila has had little success tackling violence in the east of the country where rebels, militias and rogue army units operate.
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(13) Reactions
kabila doit partir
Tshisekedi wa Mulumba a gagne l' election presidentielle avec 78% des voix sur l'ensemble du territoire national.
AUTO-DEFENSE PATRIOTIQUE: Les congolais doivent se preparer, a l'interieur comme a l'exterieur, a se defendre contre la barbarie des dirigeants illegitimes et contre la maffia internationale qui les soutient. Dans un premier temps, les patriotes de la diaspora sont invites a telephoner a l'ONU a New York pour dire qu'ils n'accepteront jamais ce hold-up electoral et qu'ils exigent l'installation de M. Tshisekedi en tant que Chef de l'Etat.
Les patriotes congoalis sont aussi appelles a prendre possession des ambassades de la RDC par des sit-ins permanents, non pas devant mais a l'interieur meme de nos ambassades pour signifier le changement de regime.
Requetes Urgentes
Nous exhortons M. Tshisekedi a former et a annoncer son gouvernement au plus tard le 7 decembre 2011 a minuit. Le peuple ne peut plus attendre. Nous incistons pour que M. Tshisekedi nomme immediatement des ambassadeurs plenipotentiaires a Londres, Bruxelles, Paris, New York (Nations Unies) et Washington DC. A ceux devraient s'ajouter des ambassadeurs itinerants avec pour mission de rapporter fidelment les messages de M. Tshisekedi a la Communaute Internationale, aux medias etrangers a l'oinion publique internationale.
ELECTION
I THINK YOU GUYS MUST BE REASONABLE , IT IS VERY CLEAR TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE IN DRC MY BEAUTIFULL ,RICH AND BIG COUNTRY. HAVE U EVER SEEN THAT ANYWHER ELSE THAN THERE? WE DONT NEED PEOPLE WHO ONLY THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES AND COME WITH A STUPID ACTIONS PLAN WHICH THEY CANT EVEN START BY ONE .. PLEASE BE FAIR GOD IS WATCHING AND I HOPE YOU PEOPLE FROM CENI WILL DO THE RIGHT THING WHICH IS TO SAY THE REAL WINNER VOTED BY LIVING PEOPLE ... AND I THINK THAT MAN WILL BE ETIENNE TSHISEKEDI OR SOMBODY ELSE BT NOT THAT GUY .SORRY .JH
comments
Joseph Kabila need the other mandets,for strongly plant the democratic system in congo,
about election
We thank our President and the electoral commission the way they prepared the election in Congo, it was good their where no quarry in the side of the government but opposition. you should remember our elders
drc congo
shame on you the western world whom still support this kabila whom still kill people rule in anyway he want and do what ever he can to cling on into power shame on you one day you will all be judge by God
Election in Congo
We the Congolese would lkike to express that we no longher want "Mr Kabila" as our President. This man stepped his feet for the first time in the Congo in 1997. Only to become our president 4 years later in 2001. Has anybody ever heard of such a thing? We dont want him and if the International Community force us to accept him, then we would rather die all of us.
elections
why dont'you go where some people have been caught with bulletins favored kabila and tell the whole world about it. we all know that man will never win the elections and Tshisekedi is by far more popular than that man. please be fair and talk the truth.
election from congo
yes thank for this opportunity to talk with you us the Congolese people we want change our nice country but the old president need rules again in our country my message is personally to you big channel`s france24 to take all kind of images to my country during election vote and security of people and we asking again to the international community to take a good decision for my country and we need Etienne thsisekedi winning this 2011 election and it our proud and to begin of pleasure to my country sorry i need this information on TV when i`ll watch tonight after working thank you so much an god bless all of you
voilence
when will African countries have stable elections with out violence
voting reforms
Voting reform will go against Joseph Hypolite. It will not favoured him because he can not come out first in the first round. He is not popular than Tshisekedi even if 3000 candidates will line up. Don't forget that Kamerhe is taking away Joseph Hypolite vote. Kamerhe is not taking Tshisekedi vote.