Most papers comment on the results of the 18 and 19 December 2005 polls while LE POTENTIEL focuses on an exclusive interview with the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance, Louis Michel, over the DRC referendum and electoral process.

The headlines in LE POTENTIEL read: Louis Michel: "Tshisekedi is a man of quality, but... " On a visit to Kinshasa, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance was asked to react to the call for boycott of the constitutional referendum by the leader of the "Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS)", a radical opposition party; Louis Michel said: "I have respect for Mr. Tshisekedi. I am not his opponent at all. It is true that lately I have not shared his views over a number of issues. (...) I believed it was nonsense to order a boycott of the constitutional referendum while it is the first opportunity for the DRC people to express their opinions through democratic ways. (...) I was surprised that he ventured to get them to deny themselves such a fundamental right, which is contrary to Mr. Tshisekedi's ideal." Louis Michel rather expected Etienne Tshisekedi to bring about his experience and capacity for DRC development: "He is a man of quality, but I believe he worked out a wrong strategy. (...) Frankly, I still do not make sense of the aim of his strategy, why did he act the way he did." It was a good opportunity for him to demonstrate his popularity through the polls, says the European Commission. "If he is popular, well, what a nice opportunity he had to demonstrate it (...), to show how popular his party was and if he had a programme for DRC, (...) he should propose his ideas to the voters and seek to convince them. I do not actually understand the sense of his boycott," declares Mr. Michel to LE POTENTIEL. With respect to possible negotiations after the referendum, he declared: "it is out of the question to interrupt the process. The referendum was organized; the electoral process must proceed without delay."

What is the purpose of Louis Michel's visit to the DRC at this stage? "I have come to hail the victory achieved by the Congolese people. I have also come to consolidate what the referendum embodies: (...) DRC has given itself a modern and democratic constitution like all the best democracies in the world with separation of powers, guarantees for individual and collective rights, and democratic votes. I believe the constitution includes positive elements for the Congolese population. (...) As from now nothing stands in the way of the democratic elections in DRC. There is no more excuse for the elections not to be organised by 30 June 2006. I have come to push for the draft electoral law to be swiftly drafted (...) I have come to announce that if the elections happened to take place by 30 June 2006, the European Commission would increase its development aid to DR Congo." Accused of being closer to President Joseph Kabila, Louis Michel defends himself: "I am not closer to either Mr. Kabila or Mr. Bemba or yet Mr. Ruberwa. (...Those are) men whom I respect, like Mr. Tshisekedi. (...) I am rather closer to the Congolese people (...) whom I regard as sisters and brothers because they share common history with me; , my country is indebted to the DRC. I do love Congolese people. They have suffered a lot. My mission, as Belgian, is to get closer to them. I call on Messrs Kabila, Bemba, Ruberwa (...) Tshisekedi, to show great concern for the Congolese people."

Tshisekedi denounces massive fraud and promises demonstrations, headlines for its part LE PALMARES, disclosing a revelation by Radio Télévision Belges Francophones (RTBF). UDPS denounces the use of non transparent polls, notably "cigarettes boxes" in some provinces like Equateur, which may have facilitated "the rigging of the ballots," notes the paper. This party also denounces "intentional power cut on Sunday, (...) at the end of the polls," which reportedly facilitated the rigging of ballots. "For its part, the CEI (Independent Electoral Commission) does not care a damn and promises to publish the second trends today," announces the paper.

"Voter turnout is still unavailable," CEI faced with transparency challenge, highlights LE PHARE on its front page. The paper says some people are worried over CEI silence over the abstentions and null ballots, "which may call into question the transparency" and constitute "grounds for contentions."

LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says the victory of "yes" is a non-event. The paper is surprised that "in Kinshasa, capital of DRC where CEI pretends the "yes" won over the "no" by 50.45%, the population that are usually very spontaneous (...bet) have remained totally indifferent at the announcement of the results of the polls" Louis Michel refers to the 49 % "no votes" in Kinshasa as "insignificant" indicates LE POTENTIEL. What matters the most is that the majority voted "yes." The results of the polls in
Kinshasa
are not quite good due to "excessive politicisation; (...) and criticisms." However LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES replies: even in the Eastern provinces (North and South Kivu, Maniema, Province Orientale) where government campaign portrayed the draft constitution as a magic potion that will eradicate the suffering of the Congolese people consecutive to the occupation of the DRC territory by RCD/political and military Movement, and where they report the highest number of "yes votes" (respectively 96.20%, 97.77%, 96.32% and 80.96%), "the populations did not go to their churches to sing the ritual Te Deum."

L'OBSERVATEUR echoes yesterday's press conference held by the chief of Electoral Observation Mission of the European Union. Philippe Morillon: "It is our wish that Congolese people get out of the chaos," writes the paper on its front page. The latter applauds "CEI staff devotion and commitment, in spite of the obstacles on the way to the referendum polls," notably the huge size of the country accentuated by the lack of communication and other technical problems that caused delay and poor campaign for the draft constitution. Mr. Morillon dismissed the idea that the polls were tricked. "We did not pay anyone to go and vote "yes" says Philippe Morillon, "on a comic tone," "The turnout at polls is still higher than in France and even the USA," reports L'OBSERVATEUR.

According to L'AVENIR, echoing a French paper L'HUMANITE, and backed the "no" in the Congolese constitutional referendum. "They hoped to secure the "no" which would have paved the road for endless crisis," writes the paper. It wonders what "both countries would do now that the "yes" has won over the no." For L'AVENIR, "the International Community must keep an eye on
Kigali
and
Kampala
knowing that anything can happen and anything can be avoided."

Alpha Oumar Konaré hails massive turnout at the referendum polls, says L'AVENIR, echoing a communiqué from the head of the African Union. MONUC is greatly satisfied with voter turnout, headlines LE PHARE, echoing MONUC weekly press conference. "Whatever the results, Congolese have every reason to feel happy for the remarkable organisation of the democratic polls, the first since 1965. The polls went off smoothly," underscores MONUC deputy spokesperson, Ms Rachel Eklou, echoed by the paper.