RCA: Elections postponed, doubts persist

By on April 1, 2010
Francois Bozize signed a decree postponing to May 16, 2010 the presidential and legislative elections, originally scheduled for April 25.
“On the proposal of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the pre-election campaign will begin on Friday, April 30 and ends Friday, May 14. Some representatives of the opposition consider the election process as “stabbed in the back”.

The opposition had called for postponing the process to the end of year 2010 at last, arguing that conditions are not enough ripe for organizing free and transparent elections.
They particularly noted the delay in the implementation of the disarmament program (DDR) and the preparation of electoral lists. In addition, the diplomats community representatives have addressed a postponement request of the elections in exchange for a consensual extension of the presidential term, which ends next June 11, but Bozizé had reaffirmed his commitment “to respect and defend the Constitution” . General Bozize, had indicated that any further “postponement of elections would open a period of constitutional vacuum and thus uncertainty is not conducive to the stability of the country”

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