Era of West's democracy formula over, EU envoy says

The EU special envoy to the Great Lakes, Aldo Ajello, also praised the local elections. Speaking during a visit to Rwanda last week, he expressed support for the queuing method of voting, stressing it would have been difficult for intimidation to take place under that system. "What was really important was that people were allowed to choose their preferred candidates," he said, in comments broadcast by Rwandan radio. "We are now demonstrating respect for African countries' opinions and ways of running things," he added. The era of the West's "ready-made formula for democracy" was gone, he said.