Indeed, Floribert Anzuluni, candidate for the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo for December 2023, recently launched an urgent call for a public debate between the presidential candidates. In a letter addressed to public and private media as well as to CEPAS, Anzuluni proposes that this debate be regulated by the CSAC in order to ensure fairness and neutrality in exchanges.
This proposal echoes the experience of the citizen primaries which recently took place in the DRC. These primaries, organized by the civil society platform Alternative for a New Congo, made it possible to place the debate around ideas at the center of Congolese political life. They also aroused strong interest from the population, thus demonstrating the importance of citizen voice in the democratic process.
Anzuluni underlines the importance of such a debate for the civic education of the Congolese population and for fostering a culture of political debate based on ideas. He believes that political actors must confront each other publicly in order to be able to discuss their social projects and thus allow voters to make an informed choice during the presidential elections.
This request for public debate between the presidential candidates is a response to the challenges facing democracy in the DRC. It aims to promote transparency and openness in the electoral process, in order to strengthen citizens’ confidence in the political system.
By organizing a regulated public debate and broadcasting it nationally, it will be possible to better understand the visions and proposals of each candidate. This will also further engage voters, providing them with an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and form an informed opinion.
It is now essential that the media and relevant institutions support this initiative and put in place the necessary means to organize a quality public debate. Civil society, press organizations and regulatory bodies should work together to ensure the fairness, impartiality and transparency of this debate.
In conclusion, Floribert Anzuluni’s call for a public debate between presidential candidates in the DRC is a legitimate request to strengthen democracy and citizen engagement in the country. Organizing such a debate would be an important step towards a more transparent, informed and democratic election. It is now time to act and support this initiative to promote active participation of the Congolese population in their electoral process.