Voters in Comoros are electing members to the 33-seat parliament following allegations of electoral irregularities in last year’s presidential elections. Approximately 338,000 individuals are registered to vote, with nearly 100 candidates competing. Opposition figures question President Assoumani’s intentions regarding his succession plans, while some parties call for a boycott. Election results are anticipated by Friday.
Voters in Comoros commenced their journey to the polls to elect representatives for the 33-seat parliamentary assembly of the Indian Ocean archipelago. This election follows the re-election of President Azali Assoumani, whose victory in the previous election was contested by the opposition due to alleged irregularities. Polling stations opened early on a recent Sunday, with approximately 338,000 registered voters present. This marks the first parliamentary election since January 2020, with nearly 100 candidates approved by the Supreme Court to contest these pivotal elections.
President Assoumani has ruled Comoros since seizing power in a coup in 1999 and has since secured three electoral victories. His tenure has been marred by accusations of authoritarian tendencies, with opposition figures suspecting him of positioning his eldest son, Nour El-Fath, to succeed him when his term concludes in 2029. In a notable political maneuver, Assoumani endowed his son with expansive powers in 2024, tasking him with overseeing all government operations. While certain opposition factions, such as Juwa led by former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who is currently imprisoned, have advocated for a boycott of the elections, others have chosen to participate.
Responses from opposition leaders emphasize the significance of their participation, expressing that it may unveil the flaws within Assoumani’s regime. “The Azali regime is weakened … by participating in these elections we are contributing to further exposing the flaws in its system and accelerating its inevitable fall,” remarked Hamidou Karihila, a candidate from the opposition Hope of the Comoros party. Election results are anticipated by Friday.
As a background to this electoral process, Comoros consists of a group of islands situated in the Indian Ocean, where political dynamics have frequently been characterized by instability, including coups and allegations of electoral misconduct. President Azali Assoumani’s rule has been particularly contentious, with claims of increasing authoritarian measures since his initial rise to power. The current parliamentary elections serve as a crucial measure of the political atmosphere within the nation, particularly in light of allegations surrounding the legitimacy of previous electoral processes.
In summary, the ongoing parliamentary elections in Comoros are set against a backdrop of political tension and allegations of impropriety surrounding previous elections. The outcomes of this electoral process may have substantial implications for the direction of governance in Comoros, as opposition parties navigate their responses to an increasingly authoritarian regime. The participation of candidates from various parties reflects a complex landscape of political engagement, with results expected shortly.
Original Source: www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au
