Cotonou (Benin) The commission of independent jurists in charge of assessing the Beninese electoral system and suggesting solutions for its improvement, has recommended to the democratic institutions, particularly the executive and parliament, to create a permanent Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).
According to the commission’s report, the creation of a 17-member permanent CENA could possibly remedy the failure from which the Beninese electoral system suffers.
“The first problem of the Beninese electoral system results from the instability of the CENA. As the CENA is an “ad hoc” body, it is not possible to build up the experience gained by its members who are not necessarily reappointed in the proposed new CENA,” the document noted.
The same source pointed out that the politicisation of the CENA is another cause of the dysfunction of the Beninese electoral system.
“Far from being a technical management body of the electoral process, the CENA has become an instrument in the service of partisan interests,” the same source underlined, explaining why instead of designating its members according to criteria fixed by the law, namely probity, competence, impartiality and patriotism, some political parties send in militants to represent them and defend their interests.
Thus, the report said the formula of a permanent CENA has the advantage of building up on the experience gained by its members who can also benefit from follow-up seminars or take part in the observation of elections outside the country to enhance their expertise.
“This solution also has the advantage of withdrawing the CENA from the influence of the political forces and ensuring the starting of the electoral operations in time,” it added.
According to the report of the commission of independent jurists, this permanent CENA will comprise an executive of five members and 12 others in charge of coordinating at the level of the 12 administrative divisions of the country.
“The members of the permanent CENA are appointed for a 5 years mandate renewable only once,” it revealed.
The profile of the 17 members of the CENA, which has become a technical management body of the electoral process, include two statisticians ; two computer scientists ; five jurists comprising well-informed law experts and theorists in electoral law : two magistrates ; two law lecturers and one lawyer.
The other CENA members will be : two sociologists, one finance administrator, two high ranking civil servants and two independent personalities of high professional reputation and morality.
“These 17 members will be appointed by three formations, namely : six by the presidential majority, six by the opposition and five by the civil society,” the same source emphasised.
Published by Korir, API*APN africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.APA
