Deciphering the tendency of candidates to line up members of their family as substitutes in elections in the DRC
Politics is a sector that often remains dominated by family dynasties and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is no exception to this trend. The elections to the National Assembly are approaching and a particular phenomenon is taking shape: many candidates choose to field members of their family as substitutes. This practice raises questions about democracy and fairness within political parties.
The most striking example comes from candidate Doug Kulungu, outgoing national deputy and ACR candidate for the electoral district of Kasongo-Lunda. He chose to field his brother and sister as alternates. This situation is repeated in other regions of the country, where parliamentary candidates have selected spouses, children, parents or siblings to fill these alternate positions.
While some candidates justify this choice by claiming that their relatives are the most reliable and competent to represent them, many observers see it as a desire to perpetuate family power and create networks of political patronage. This practice is all the more criticized when political parties propose programs based on democracy, equal opportunities and diversity.
Some candidates, such as Delly Sessanga, even have a history of fighting this phenomenon. He had initially backed a bill to ban the alignment of family members as deputies in the National Assembly. Ironically, he eventually lined up his younger sister as the first alternate. This contradiction highlights the compromises often necessary in politics.
Beyond these observations, it is interesting to underline that members claiming to be from civil society or religious organizations, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, have also applied for deputies. If some see a desire to diversify the profiles of candidates, others wonder about the presence of these actors in the political world.
The debate around this practice of lining up family members as substitutes in elections highlights the challenges of democracy and political representation in the DRC. It is essential to promote a genuine diversity of profiles and ideas within political parties, in order to guarantee fair representation and to encourage a renewal of the political landscape.
In conclusion, it is important to closely monitor this trend of family alignment during elections in the DRC. Voters must be aware of the stakes in order to be able to exercise their choice in full knowledge of the facts