Title: The Kinshasa provincial elections: a shortlist of political parties and political groups
Introduction :
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) recently published the list of political parties and political groups eligible for the provincial elections in Kinshasa, which will be held on December 20. This shortlist raises many questions about the political future of the region. In this article, we will examine the results of this selection and its potential impact on the political landscape of Kinshasa.
Historical political parties in the running:
Among the 80 political parties selected for the provincial elections in Kinshasa, there are major political players such as the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) and the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). These parties play an essential role in the Congolese political landscape and their participation in the provincial elections underlines the importance of these elections for the future of Kinshasa.
The presence of political groups:
In addition to individual political parties, 69 political groups also managed to meet the admissibility criteria for the Kinshasa provincial elections. Among them are Vital Kamerhe’s party with its allies (A/A-UNC) as well as the unified Lumumbist party with its allies (AAC/Palu). These political groupings represent an alternative to traditional parties and can potentially change the political landscape of Kinshasa.
The battle of the candidates:
For the 44 provincial seats in Kinshasa, a total of 5,618 candidates registered. Among them, 2261 candidates come from political parties, 2849 from political groups and 508 are running as independent candidates. This diversity of candidates testifies to the commitment of local political actors and the fierce competition to win the provincial seats in Kinshasa.
Conclusion :
The shortlist of political parties and political groups for the Kinshasa provincial elections reflects the evolution of the Congolese political landscape. The main traditional political forces actively participate in these elections, while leaving the door open to new political actors grouped within coalitions. The diversity of the candidates testifies to the political commitment of citizens and the desire to change the political landscape of Kinshasa. The provincial elections in Kinshasa will therefore be a key moment to determine the political future of the region and to influence the entire country.