Parties oppose new electoral law

Political parties in Mali, including the main ally of the ruling Alliance pour la democratie au Mali (ADEMA) in the ruling coalition, have come out against a new electoral law approved by parliament about a week ago, AFP reported. Under the new law, 110 parliamentarians will be elected on a first-past-the-post basis, and 40 others by proportional representation on national slates. Under the previous system, legislative elections were held in two rounds. The co-governing Parti pour la renaissance nationale (PARENA) said the law was biased and ensured ADEMA an absolute majority in parliament. The Collectif des parties d’opposition (COPO), which boycotted elections in 1997, also came out against it. Meanwhile, the new law limits the role of the Commission électorale nationale indépendante [national independent electoral commission] to monitoring the polls which will now be organised by the Ministry of Territorial Administration.