Didier Reynders welcomes the consensus on the electoral reform bill in the DRC

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders welcomes the spirit of conciliation and dialogue that prevailed between the different political actors after the recent violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He welcomes the consensus reached by the National Assembly and the Senate, who chose to preserve social peace by withdrawing from the electoral reform bill a clause under which a national census would have to be completed before the next presidential and parliamentary elections.

Minister Reynders stresses that credible, inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections must be organized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He calls on all political actors to refrain from taking any action that would impead the organisation of elections according to the provisions stipulated in the Constitution, or would limit participation. Belgium will remain attentive to this.

Minister Reynders stresses that democratic elections are not possible without liberty of expression and peaceful assembly. Civil society has an essential and constructive role to play.

Didier Reynders underlines that Belgium will support the organisation of these elections only if the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) adopts a clear, reasonable and transparent budget, as well as a realistic and credible timetable.