Fatshimetry
The electoral campaign for Rwanda’s July 15 presidential elections began on Saturday, with nine million registered voters. This election is coupled for the first time with the legislative elections.
Paul Kagame, elected president for the first time by Parliament in 2000 and re-elected by universal vote in 2003, 2010 and 2017 with more than 90% of the votes each time, will face his former opponents from 2017, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana .
Key opposition figures such as Victoire Ingabire and Bernard Ntaganda were prevented from running due to previous convictions. Diane Rwigara’s candidacy was invalidated due to non-compliant documents; she had already been excluded and then acquitted in 2018.
A constitutional review in 2015 reduced the length of the presidential term from seven to five years, potentially allowing Kagame to stay in power until 2034 if he is re-elected.
The legislative elections were synchronized with the presidential election, with more than 500 candidates competing for 80 parliamentary seats. Voters will directly elect 53 representatives, while 27 seats will be reserved for women, young people and people with disabilities, chosen indirectly.
This election in Rwanda raises questions about democracy and political diversity, as the country continues its march towards the future. Voters will have to choose between the continuity represented by Paul Kagame and the renewal embodied by his adversaries, in a country in the midst of change. The issues are multiple and the consequences of this election will be crucial for the future of Rwanda and its governance.