The New National Deputies Elected at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa
Congolese politics takes a new turn with the arrival of national deputies elected during the elections of December 20, 2023. This Monday, January 29, these new representatives are summoned to the Palais du Peuple, in Kinshasa, for the inaugural plenary chaired by the secretary general of the National Assembly.
This first session will set up the age office, in accordance with article 114 of the Constitution. This office, composed of the dean of the chamber and the two youngest elected deputies, will direct the inaugural session until the agenda is exhausted.
One of the first tasks of this age office will be the establishment of a special commission responsible for verifying the files of each deputy in order to validate their powers. This crucial step, provided for by article 108 of the Constitution, will require the resignation of several members of the government and other institutions of the country, due to the incompatibility of their functions.
Among the personalities expected to resign, we include Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, Deputy Prime Ministers Vital Kamerhe, Peter Kazadi, Christophe Lutundula, as well as several ministers elected as deputies. Even the President of the Senate, Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, and the members of his office will have to undergo this procedure to have their powers validated.
In addition to the administrative aspects, this inaugural session will also give rise to the development of the internal regulations of the National Assembly. Once this step has been completed, the final office will be installed, thus marking the end of this session.
The arrival of new national deputies represents an important moment of transition for Congolese political life. This election marks a renewal of the people’s representatives and opens the way to new debates and reforms within the National Assembly.
The coming months will be crucial for these newly elected deputies, who will have the responsibility of defending the interests of their voters and contributing to building a better future for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese political scene is in turmoil, and all eyes are on these new actors who will be keen to make their voices heard and advance the issues that are important to them.