The Congolese National Assembly unveiled Thursday, May 16, 2023 a list of deputies exposed to sanctions for “unjustified absences” at plenary sessions. Among the names cited is that of Jonathan Bialosuka Wata, elected from the electoral district of Tshangu (Kinshasa). However, the elected official refutes this accusation stating that his name is misquoted and that several irregularities marred the procedure.
Indeed, the communication from the Assembly quotes him as “Jonathan Wata” while his full name is “Jonathan Bialosuka Wata”. Moreover, he denies any irregularity in his absences from the plenary sessions and requests an official notification of this list. He also calls into question the legitimacy of the adviser to the President of the National Assembly who made the press release in place of the rapporteur.
This is not the first time that the National Assembly has invalidated certain deputies because of their absence from plenary sessions. This reflects the need for strict compliance with the internal regulations of the institutions, to guarantee the proper functioning of the State and to meet citizens’ expectations.
Nevertheless, it is important that this sanction procedure be transparent and respect the rights of the elected officials concerned. The debate around the presence of elected representatives at plenary meetings and the legitimacy of the sanctions imposed must take place within a clear framework.
The resolution of this controversy will await further events and a possible official notification from the National Assembly to the elected official concerned.