The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) is pursuing its plan to organize general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo despite political tensions with the opposition. According to information provided by Denis Kadima and his team on June 13, the convocation of the electorate for the national deputation is scheduled for June 25, 2023, in accordance with the electoral calendar made public on November 26, 2022.
The CENI Rapporteur, Patricia Nseya, announced that the Candidatures Reception and Processing Office (BRTC) for national deputies will be operational from June 26 to July 15, 2023 for a period of 20 days during which candidates will be able to represent their peoples. to the National Assembly for the next legislature.
The CENI recalled that political parties or political groups must present the list of candidates for the election of national deputies, while independent persons may present themselves individually in accordance with Article 120 of the Electoral Law in force.
The Commission specified that to be a candidate in the legislative elections, the candidates must meet the following conditions: be of Congolese nationality, be twenty-five years old at the closing date for the submission of candidatures, enjoy the fullness of their rights civilians and politicians, be eligible to vote or be identified and enlisted when filing their candidacy, have a higher education or university degree or provide proof of at least five years’ professional experience in the political field, administrative or socio-economic.
Candidates can apply to the branch of the CENI. The declaration of candidacy must include the original of the letter of consent signed by the candidate in accordance with the model set by the CENI, an identity card followed by a detailed curriculum vitae, four passport-size photos, as well as a symbol or logo for political parties or political groupings. The documents to be provided include a photocopy of the voter’s card, a photocopy of the birth certificate or birth certificate, proof of payment, in the account of the Public Treasury, of the non-refundable application fee of 1,600,000 Congolese francs per seat, the original of the letter of nomination of the candidate by his political party or his political group, and a certified photocopy of the diploma of higher or university studies or the certificate in lieu or the certificate justifying a professional experience of at least five years in the political, administrative or socio-economic field.
The CENI invites legally constituted political parties and political groups as well as independent candidates to prepare their candidacy files in accordance with legal provisions..
In conclusion, the CENI remains determined to organize the general elections in the DRC despite the political tensions with the opposition. Candidates must meet all the necessary conditions to be able to represent their peoples in the National Assembly for the next legislature. Political parties and political groupings must prepare to present candidates who meet the criteria required for the legislative elections