New electoral criteria law for presidential candidates

The transitional parliament of the Republic of Congo (ROC) in Brazzaville on Saturday adopted a new electoral law setting out conditions for presidential candidates, AFP reported on Monday. The law specifies that all presidential candidates must have resided continuously in the ROC for 24 months before election, be Congolese by birth, and be in good physical and mental health as certified by three medical doctors. Furthermore, candidates must have at least 15 years of professional experience and be within the ages of 45 to 75 on the date they register their candidature. They must also present a certificate of proper financial conduct and a deposit of five million francs CFA (US $6,900). The law comes in advance of the establishment of an national electoral commission, a body whose creation was recommended by the inter-Congolese political dialogue that took place in March and April this year following years of civil unrest. According to AFP, former president Pascal Lissouba and his prime minister Bernard Kolelas, both found guilty in absentia of a variety of crimes, will not be allowed to present themselves as candidates. The two men have lived in exile in London and Cote d'Ivoire during the past four years. Denis Sassou-Nguesso proclaimed himself president on 25 Oct. 1997, following victory in the civil war. A 75-member transitional assembly, the Conseil national de la transition, was established in January 1998. The Congolese government has announced plans to organise a referendum in December on a new constitution. It proposes that the president, who is elected by universal suffrage, may serve two seven-year terms. It also provides for a legislature with an upper house, the Senate. Congo last held national presidential elections in August 1992 and legislative elections in October 1993. The presidential election in August 1997 was cancelled because of civil war. A presidential election is expected in early 2002, and a legislative one shortly after that, although no dates have been set.