Title: Bills rejected in the Senate: What impact on legislative harmonization in the DRC?
Introduction :
The legislative process is often a challenge in many countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), proposed laws rarely achieve unanimity and can be subject to numerous obstacles. Recently, two bills initiated by the first vice-president of the National Assembly were excluded from the agenda of the plenary session in the Senate. This decision raised concerns about legislative harmonization and the consideration of Senators by the National Assembly. In this article, we will explore the implications of this situation and the measures being considered to resolve this dispute.
The context of the rejection of the legislative proposals:
According to senatorial sources, President Modeste’s proposed laws on fundamental principles relating to agriculture and modifying the organic law on the status of magistrates have not been processed in the National Assembly since the previous year. This negligence aroused the concern of Senator André Kimbuta, who raised a point of order during the plenary session. He highlighted the lack of reciprocity in the processing of bills between the two legislative chambers.
The senators’ concern about this situation:
The point of order received support from other senators, who expressed concern over the downplaying of the bills by the National Assembly. Senator Denis Kambayi Tshimbumbu highlighted the meticulous work carried out during the development of these legislative proposals, involving eminent professors and scientists. He pleaded in favor of consultation between the two offices to resolve this situation.
The testimony of Senator Alain Ilunga Kitombolwe:
Senator Alain Ilunga Kitombolwe, member of the Joint Environment Committee responsible for examining the proposed law on fundamental principles relating to agriculture, expressed his indignation. He highlighted the time and effort devoted to harmonizing this bill in the Lower House. He pleaded in favor of adequate consideration of this work during the examination in the Senate.
Towards a harmonization of views between the two legislative chambers:
Following the vote on the motion, all senators agreed to remove the two bills from the agenda. However, they did not completely reject these proposals and called for consultation between the offices of the National Assembly and the Senate to harmonize views. Modeste Bahati, first vice-president of the National Assembly, announced that his office would contact that of the National Assembly to resolve this situation.
Conclusion :
The sidelining of legislative proposals in the DRC Senate raises questions about legislative harmonization and reciprocity between the two legislative chambers. It is essential to ensure effective cooperation and communication between the National Assembly and the Senate to avoid such disputes. By harmonizing views and granting mutual consideration to legislative work, the DRC will be able to move towards more coherent and effective legislation for the benefit of all its citizens.