Title: Candidates for legislative elections in the DRC: a family affair
Introduction :
The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to hold its new electoral cycle next December. While the Independent National Electoral Commission has closed the receipt of candidatures, it is interesting to observe that certain traditional practices persist in the country, particularly with regard to the nomination of substitutes. Indeed, many candidates choose to favor their family members to the detriment of members of their political parties. This trend raises questions about democracy and the representativeness of elected officials. Focus on this family affair which is playing out on the Congolese political scene.
Candidates who cannot do without their loved ones:
In the race for legislative elections in the DRC, family tradition is well anchored. Despite criticism and calls for more transparency, many candidates choose to appoint family members as first alternates. This practice is supported by the Congolese electoral law, which provides that the substitute replaces the deputy in the event of death, resignation, permanent incapacity, final criminal conviction or incompatibility. However, its excessive use raises questions about the representativeness of elected officials and equal opportunities within the Congolese political class.
Shocking examples:
Among the most notable examples, we observe the appointment of members of the Mboso family in the Kwango constituency. The speaker of the national assembly, aged 81, is a national deputy candidate for the fourth time. His son, Nicolas Mboso, is his first deputy. A similar situation is occurring with former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, who names his daughter Muzito Randall as his potential replacement in the Congolese parliament. We also note the case of MP Colette Tshomba, who chooses her 25-year-old daughter, Awa Eva Tshomba, as a substitute.
The consequences on democracy and representativeness:
This family affair in the candidacies for the legislative elections in the DRC raises questions about democracy and the representativeness of elected officials. By favoring their family members, candidates prioritize their personal and family interests rather than those of their political parties and the population they are supposed to represent. This practice reinforces clientelism and nepotism, which are scourges for democracy and political equity. It is essential to question these practices and promote greater transparency and greater diversity in candidates for legislative elections in the DRC..
Conclusion :
The family affair surrounding the candidacies for the legislative elections in the DRC highlights the persistent practices of favoritism and nepotism within the Congolese political class. By favoring their family members as substitutes, candidates compromise democracy and the representativeness of elected officials. It is necessary to put in place reforms to promote greater transparency and greater diversity in candidates for legislative elections, in order to guarantee true democracy and true representativeness within the Congolese parliament.