Law on opposition parties adopted

Burkina Faso's parliament on Tuesday adopted a law governing the role and place of opposition parties in the country's democratic process, the official 'Sidwaya' daily reported in its 26 April edition. The law, which was reproduced by Sidwaya, stipulates, among other things, that opposition leaders or activists may not be penalised for their political opinions "on condition that they respect the law" and that their freedom of movement may not be curtailed except for reasons provided for in existing laws. The law grants opposition parties access to the state press in the same conditions as parties belonging to the parliamentary majority -which has 104 of the 111 seats in the present legislature. It also stipulates that they shall benefit in the same way as the majority parties from public financing to participate in the country's political life.