The parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) adopted
an electoral law on Tuesday, paving the way for the country's first
free presidential poll since its independence in 1960.
Under the law, the National Assembly and Senate of the DRC
agreed to establish a special commission to handle issues raised by
lawmakers concerning allocation of parliamentary seats and the
election schedule.
On Tuesday, the Independent Electoral Commission of the DRC
submitted a scheme to parliament on the allocation of the
parliamentary seats.
Under the scheme, Katanga province, the hometown of President
Joseph Kabila, wins a lion's share of 69 seats, followed by
Orientale Province, with 63 seats.
Kinshasa and Equateur Province win 58 seats each. Of the
remaining seats, 57 go to Bandundu, 48 to Nord-Kivu, 40 to Kasai
Occidental, 39 to Kasai Oriental, 32 to Sud-Kivu and 24 to
Bas-Congo.
According to the electoral schedule submitted by the electoral
commission on Tuesday, there will be 110 days from candidate
registration to the start of the first round of voting.
The commission suggested that the elections begin on June 18 as
long as the president signs the electoral law on Feb. 27.
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)
