Kinshasa, July 8th, 2021 (CPA).– The President of the Republic Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo promulgated, on July 3rd, the law amending and supplementing the organic law on the organization and functioning of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), announced on Wednesday, the Congolese national radio television (RTNC) through a marching band.
The new law on the electoral center, it is recalled, was proposed by the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula.
Adopted on June 4th in the National Assembly and on June 11th in the Senate, at second reading, it was declared in conformity with the Constitution on July 1st, 2021.
Among the innovations it brings, there is the increase in the number of members of CENI plenary. Indeed, it drops to 15 because of 5 for the majority, 5 for the opposition and 5 for civil society. As a result, 7 of them will sit on the Bureau which will be headed by a delegate from religious denominations.
Civil society saw its quota increased from 3 members to 5 and the post of the second deputy president was reinstated.
Apart from the balance in terms of representation of components and entities, this law strengthens the conditions for appointment to different positions in order to guarantee the independent character of CENI.
The reform that the organic law of CENI has just undergone is the consequence of electoral disputes before the competent courts during the three electoral cycles that DRC has known, in 2006, 2011 and 2018.
CENI reform law aims to strengthen the independence, neutrality and impartiality of CENI and fight against all inclinations of its instrumentalization. ACP / Kabula / Yogolelo
