Title: “The operation of receiving candidacies for the national legislative elections in Kwango ends successfully”
Introduction :
The operation of receiving and processing candidacies for the national legislative elections in Kwango ended recently, and the Provincial Executive Secretariat of the CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission) is pleased with the smooth running of this process. Figures reveal a significant increase in the number of candidates compared to the last election cycle, but also underline the low representation of women in this electoral race.
Development :
During this operation, the CENI registered no less than 412 national deputy candidates in the six constituencies of Kwango province. This figure, up from the 326 candidates registered in previous elections, testifies to the growing enthusiasm for political participation in this region.
However, a worrying statistic should be highlighted: only 10% of candidates are women. This female under-representation shows that it is necessary to put in place measures aimed at encouraging and supporting the political participation of women, in order to guarantee real parity in legislative bodies.
Furthermore, it is regrettable to note that no independent candidate chose to stand for these elections. This absence can be attributed to the fear of the threshold, which is a complicated electoral requirement for independent candidates. This situation raises the question of equitable access to political representation for all citizens, whether they are affiliated with a political party or not.
In addition, criticism has been leveled at MP candidates from Kenge constituency who chose to field family members as alternates. This practice raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the candidate selection process, as well as about the diversity of profiles represented in the National Assembly.
Conclusion :
The operation of receiving and processing candidacies for the national legislative elections in Kwango was successfully concluded, recording a remarkable increase in the number of candidates. However, challenges persist, particularly with regard to women’s representation and equal access to political participation. It is essential to take steps to ensure genuine diversity in legislative bodies and to promote inclusive participation of all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation. Only in this way can we build a strong democracy representative of the aspirations of the population