MONUC Press Review - 10 January 2006

Tuesday's official installation of the elected Bureau of the National Assembly is the main topic in Kinshasa newspapers this Wednesday.

As scheduled, the newly elected National Assembly Bureau was inaugurated yesterday Tuesday, 9 January 2007, in an officially ceremony at the Palais du people (People's Palace), seat of the DRC Parliament. On that occasion, La Référence Plus reports, the Lower House President, Vital Kemerhe, promised "to hunt down those [government] ministers and other executive officers who would not adhere to good governance practices". This paper quotes him further saying: "those who will be found confusing state coffers with their own wallets or refusing to adhere to the new line of conduct will find the National Assembly standing against them."

Also covering the Lower House President's speech, Le Palmarès says he vowed "to fight impunity amongst government members as well as government-run companies and financial agencies officials who would misbehave."

Eliminating "anti-values" is the battle that Vital Kemerhe wants to fight, La Tempête des Tropiques summarises.

However, as President of the National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe ought to keep "out of the political fray, that is, rise and stay above all political parties," Le Potentiel writes. He will need "to ensure cohesion in the Bureau on one hand" and on the other "win the appreciation of the minority who feels crushed by the majority to whom he belongs," this paper says, adding "The success of the National Assembly will somewhat depend on Vital Kamerhe's attitude."

Meanwhile, the population "observes and expects to see tangible actions, not speeches," L'Avenir notes.

In other political news, the first government of the Third Republic is expected to be announced today, reports La Tempête des Tropiques, citing "information" in its possession. The Prime Minister, Antoine Gizenga, "already has the list of the persons composing the soon-to-come government," this paper says.