Sudan parliament poised to pass elections law despite opposition

July 6, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s national assembly is expected to adopt a draft elections law today despite reservations by opposition parties.

The elections law has stalled for money months over the percentage of proportional representation.

The NCP wants 60% for the majority election system and 40% for the proportional representation system out of which 25% is allotted for women. The proposed law will establish separate lists for women on the state level and the list that obtains the highest votes will have all the seats.

A group of women staged a demonstration on front of Sudan assembly protesting the separate list saying it isolates them from their respective parties.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Darfuri groups rejected the draft law saying it will lead to the exclusion of some political powers and threatened to boycott today’s session.

Moreover the opposition parties stressed that the elections committee should be appointed through the agreement of all political parties “to be free from the influence of executive powers”.

Some have questioned conducting elections in the war ravaged region of Darfur saying it will have negative implications on its fairness.

However Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) which initially rejected the draft law appeared to be in agreement with it.

In 2009 Sudan will hold its first general elections since the 1989 coup that brought Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir to power.

(ST)