*To Remind,
“The Constitutional Court examines the fate of national deputies in the DRC: a decisive turning point for the political future of the country”
National deputies in the Democratic Republic of Congo: the fate of their votes in the hands of the Constitutional Court
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently in a pivotal period in its political history.
The Constitutional Court, the body responsible for resolving electoral disputes, convened a hearing this Monday to examine the cases of national deputies whose votes had been canceled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) last December.
In a press release published on its official account, the Constitutional Court announced the holding of this public hearing which will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Marcel Lihau room of the Court of Cassation. In total, 64 cases will be examined during this hearing.
It is important to remember that the Ceni had already published the provisional results of the national legislative elections on January 14.
According to these results, the number of voters stood at 17,976,051, and 477 national deputies were elected to sit in the Lower House of the Congolese Parliament, including 65 women.
Among the most notable elected deputies, we can cite Carole Agito (Bas-Uele), Jean-Marie Mangombe (Equateur), Adrien Bokele (Kasaï Central), Véronique Lumanu (Lomami), Edmond Mbaz (Lualaba), Matata Ponyo (Maniema ), Aimé Molendo (Mongala), She Okitundu (Sankuru) and Emmanuel Mukundu (Tanganyika).
However, it should be noted that 82 deputy candidates had been invalidated by the Ceni for reasons such as electoral fraud, vandalism against electoral agents or even the fraudulent possession of electronic voting devices.
These candidates were also prohibited from leaving the national territory by the Court of Cassation.
Once the electoral disputes have been resolved, the Constitutional Court will publish the final results of the national legislative elections in the DRC.
This step will be crucial for the formation of the Congolese Parliament and will lay the foundations for a new government.
It is undeniable that the outcome of this hearing by the Constitutional Court will have major repercussions on the future of the DRC.
The decisions taken regarding the canceled votes will have a direct impact on the composition and functioning of the National Assembly, as well as on future policies.
It is therefore appropriate to closely monitor developments in these cases, as they will shape the path that the DRC will take in the coming years.
Holding a public hearing shows the authorities’ desire to ensure the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process, thus guaranteeing a democratic future for the Congolese people.
Legislative disputes: judgments of the Constitutional Court expected before March 23
The Constitutional Court sitting on Monday February 12, 2024, in the matter of contesting the results of the national legislative elections, promised to deliver its judgments before March 23, 2024 on the 81 applications introduced in relation to the elections organized in December in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC).
“The debates are closed. The causes are taken under advisement. The Court's judgments will be delivered before March 23, 2024,” declared Dieudonné Kamuleta, President of the High Court.
For his part, the Attorney General at the Constitutional Court requested that the Court declare itself competent, declare certain requests “admissible, but unfounded”, and others “inadmissible”.
Previously, the Constitutional Court had declared inadmissible last Thursday, in its judgments, 35 files out of the 68 requests submitted.
Two cases were dismissed due to withdrawal of parties and 24 cases were declared unfounded during this same hearing.
81 national deputy candidates had been invalidated for electoral fraud, vandalism and possession of electronic voting devices (DEV) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni).
Among the invalids whose appeals had been rejected by the Constitutional Court, Nsingi Pululu, Governor Gentiny Ngobila Mbaka and Tatiana Pembe Luemba were notably cited.
477 national deputies, including 65 women, were provisionally proclaimed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni).
“The votes validly cast for this ballot amount to 17,976,051,” announced the Céni rapporteur.
Furthermore, among the best elected officials, were cited: Carole Agito (Bas-Uélé), Jean-Marie Mangombe (Equateur), Adrien Bokele (Kasaï Central), Véronique Lumanu (Lomami), Edmond Mbaz (Lualaba), Matata Ponyo ( Maniema), Aimé Molendo (Mongala), She Okitundu (Sankuru), Emmanuel Mukundu (Tanganyika).
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