In Burkina Faso, the National Electoral Commission has a new president. It is the magistrate Elisé Ouedraogo who was elected after several hours of negotiations and after the intervention of several political or customary personalities. Despite the candidate’s withdrawal from the ordinary chief, it was through a lack of consensus, through an election that two candidates for the post of president of the election commission were separated.
with our correspondent in Ouagadougou, Yaya Boudani
The election of the president of the CNE had been postponed several times after the opposition parties had refused to participate if the candidate presented by the usual leadership area was retained. They accused him of being an activist for the ruling party, which could undermine the credibility and transparency of the upcoming elections. According to a rotation principle, however, it was around the ordinary chief to present a candidate to lead the election commission for the next five years.
But the head of state, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, intervened with the customs to allow the establishment of the election commission. It required the head of state’s personal commitment to unite the two camps, the majority and the opposition parties.
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré appealed to the usual chief to resign his candidacy for the post of president of Ceni. “I took responsibility for asking to see His Majesty, Moro Naaba I asked His Majesty to kindly accept that the representatives of the customary chief are not candidates for the Ceni presidency, “the head of state announced.
► Also read : in Burkina Faso, a candidate for the Ceni presidency who was rejected by the opposition
A vote for lack of consensus on a candidate
The candidate for the usual leadership area withdrew his candidacy and it was several hours late – after the commissioners swore in – that the election process began, without any consensus emerging around a single candidate for the post of chairman of the election commission.
“The law says that it is a choice that must be decided by the members of the office, but if it was agreed (it was) even better,” explains Clément Sawadogo, Minister of Territorial Administration. That’s why things dragged on … “
Finally, it was the magistrate Elisé Ouedraogo, who represented the Catholic Church within the Electoral Commission, who was elected by 13 votes out of 15 against another candidate. “It was not a long calm river but we got there and that is the most important thing: at this stage we look forward together.”
The new president will take over responsibility on Friday with a view to preparing for the next municipal elections.
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