UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original text in French
The current debates in the National Assembly constitute the main subject of today's newspaper commentary.
The current debates in the National Assembly constitute the main subject of today's newspaper commentary.
In a front-page story titled « MPs and Senators are wrangling over the Presidential Chair, » LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, considering the on-going discussion in the National Assembly, explains that « In the initial draft of the future constitution prepared by the upper chamber of Parliament, the Senators foresaw that should the Office of President of the Republic become vacant, the President of the Senate would take over until that vacancy is filled trough legal procedures. This provision has not been approved by MPs of the lower chamber who see things differently. » According to the MPs, « In the event of such a vacuum, it is the President of the National Assembly who becomes Acting President in the absence of the Incumbent President, » the paper reports.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also mentions « another difference between the two chambers » over their number and mandate duration. « The Senators had foreseen a Senate with 250 members, which in fact is a reduction, compared to the current size. They also recommended downsizing the National Assembly to 450 members from 530 currently. Current National Assembly members want the future lower chamber to hold between 400 and 600,' the paper reports.
Concerning the duration of the respective mandates, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that « The Senators had foreseen a 6-year term for the upper chamber and a 5-year term for members of the lower chamber. The latter are for equal mandate duration for both chambers, » the paper adds.
« MLC and RCD components are battling each other over what form should the State takes, » L'OBSERVATEUR announces.
A supporter of a federal State, RCD's PM Moise Nyarugabo, argued that « all the wars in the DRC have been fought under a unitary State. » On the other hand, MLC's Thomas Luwaka pointed out that ' given the current political context, we cannot rush from unitary State to a federal State, » the paper reports.
LE PALMARES, for its part, notes « an astonishing rapprochement between PPRD and MLC, » explaining that « MP Thomas Luwaka's argument seemed to embrace the views heatedly defended by supporters of President Joseph Kabila. »
According to L'AVENIR, « The Senate accuses the Government of slow down the transition ». Quoting the First Vice-President of the Senate, Dr Emile Ilunga, the paper writes: « It is not clear what's being done in the country today. No methodic explanations are being given to our populations on the prerequisites'Finally, note the Government's past and present delays in transmitting to the Transitional Parliament bills whose passage into law is essential for the continuation of the transition process. »
On the economic front, LE POTENTIEL announces « The IMF threatens to freeze all the credits » over « bad management of public finances ». The paper explains that « after successfully conducting economic reforms imposed in 2001 as a prerequisite to any resumption of structural cooperation with foreign partners, the Transitional Government has been going through a dark period for several months ' a situation marked by excesses in the management of public finances. » « All classic macroeconomic indicators such as the exchange and inflation rates are flashing red,' the paper says.
The death of the Catholic Pope continues to interest the Kinshasa press. « Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba to attend John Paul II's funeral,» L'AVENIR announced. Titling « How Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba have come to an agreement, » LE PALMARES reveals that « there will be only one official delegation representing the country and led by Joseph Kabila. But Jean Pierre Bemba will be part of this delegation, » the paper adds.
In a different development, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reports « Budja Mabe instructing his troops to help with the repatriation of elements of the FDLR. ». Citing a 4 April speech by the commander of the 10th military region, at a military parade in Bukavu, the paper writes: he « instructed his troops to help, alongside MONUC peacekeepers, with the repatriation of militiamen of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda »
LE PHARE reports « death threats received by the organization Journalists In Danger(JED)». According to the paper, these threats came after JED had «denounced control of some media by politicians ». LE PHARE also reports « Reporters Without Borders appealing to Joseph Kabila. »
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also mentions « another difference between the two chambers » over their number and mandate duration. « The Senators had foreseen a Senate with 250 members, which in fact is a reduction, compared to the current size. They also recommended downsizing the National Assembly to 450 members from 530 currently. Current National Assembly members want the future lower chamber to hold between 400 and 600,' the paper reports.
Concerning the duration of the respective mandates, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that « The Senators had foreseen a 6-year term for the upper chamber and a 5-year term for members of the lower chamber. The latter are for equal mandate duration for both chambers, » the paper adds.
« MLC and RCD components are battling each other over what form should the State takes, » L'OBSERVATEUR announces.
A supporter of a federal State, RCD's PM Moise Nyarugabo, argued that « all the wars in the DRC have been fought under a unitary State. » On the other hand, MLC's Thomas Luwaka pointed out that ' given the current political context, we cannot rush from unitary State to a federal State, » the paper reports.
LE PALMARES, for its part, notes « an astonishing rapprochement between PPRD and MLC, » explaining that « MP Thomas Luwaka's argument seemed to embrace the views heatedly defended by supporters of President Joseph Kabila. »
According to L'AVENIR, « The Senate accuses the Government of slow down the transition ». Quoting the First Vice-President of the Senate, Dr Emile Ilunga, the paper writes: « It is not clear what's being done in the country today. No methodic explanations are being given to our populations on the prerequisites'Finally, note the Government's past and present delays in transmitting to the Transitional Parliament bills whose passage into law is essential for the continuation of the transition process. »
On the economic front, LE POTENTIEL announces « The IMF threatens to freeze all the credits » over « bad management of public finances ». The paper explains that « after successfully conducting economic reforms imposed in 2001 as a prerequisite to any resumption of structural cooperation with foreign partners, the Transitional Government has been going through a dark period for several months ' a situation marked by excesses in the management of public finances. » « All classic macroeconomic indicators such as the exchange and inflation rates are flashing red,' the paper says.
The death of the Catholic Pope continues to interest the Kinshasa press. « Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba to attend John Paul II's funeral,» L'AVENIR announced. Titling « How Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba have come to an agreement, » LE PALMARES reveals that « there will be only one official delegation representing the country and led by Joseph Kabila. But Jean Pierre Bemba will be part of this delegation, » the paper adds.
In a different development, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reports « Budja Mabe instructing his troops to help with the repatriation of elements of the FDLR. ». Citing a 4 April speech by the commander of the 10th military region, at a military parade in Bukavu, the paper writes: he « instructed his troops to help, alongside MONUC peacekeepers, with the repatriation of militiamen of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda »
LE PHARE reports « death threats received by the organization Journalists In Danger(JED)». According to the paper, these threats came after JED had «denounced control of some media by politicians ». LE PHARE also reports « Reporters Without Borders appealing to Joseph Kabila. »
