ELECTIONS UPDATE: SUPREME COURT APPROVES NATIONAL

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