Cablegate: Elections Update: Supreme Court Approves National

VZCZCXRO2291
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1895 3560912
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220912Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5334
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001895

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS UPDATE: SUPREME COURT APPROVES NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY RULES

REF: KINSHASA 1890

1. (U) The DRC's Supreme Court approved the Internal Rules
for the National Assembly on December 21, two days ahead of
the deadline (reftel). According to the Constitution, each
parliamentary chamber's first duty is to draft internal rules
which must be reviewed for constitutionality by the Supreme
Court. After the Court's approval, the next step is for the
National Assembly to meet and adopt the Internal Rules, after
which it can proceed with the Assembly's business.

2. (SBU) The National Assembly now has five days to meet,
adopt the rules, and initiate a plenary session. During this
next session, the Assembly must also elect the members of the
permanent Bureau and the President of the National Assembly.
The President will come from the majority coalition Alliance
for the Presidential Majority, and frontrunners for the
position (at least in the media) include Vital Kamerhe
Olivier Kamitatu. Members of the Assembly plan to meet
December 23, if a quorum can be obtained.

3. (SBU) The next step after the first plenary session will
be the naming of a Prime Minister (reftel), presumably
Antoine Gizenga.
DOUGHERTY

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