Sudan constitutional body starts discussions on elections law
February 2, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The committee of elections law in the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) started activities today by adopting initial provisions of the law including the name of the law and the date of the entry into force of Law.
Majid Yousef, the NCRC Secretary General said that the Committee passed articles on the composition of the National Elections Commission (NEC). The draft is providing to establish the NEC within one month since the issuance the law. The draft of law also enables the NEC to set up high level committees in the northern and southern parts of the country.
According to the draft, the NEC will be based in Khartoum.
The provisions of the draft stipulate that the NEC is composed of nine members selected by the President of the republic and his first deputy and should be approved by two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly.
Further, the members of the NEC are invested by the law to elect the NEC president and his deputy.
Abdullah Idris Chairperson of the committee asked the representatives of the National Congress Party and the SPLM to agree on the articles of the electoral law in two weeks.
He said the committee adopted articles on the functions and powers of the NEC and its budget. Also it adopted articles on the management of elections and the electoral register in terms of voter eligibility, and the referendum.
The committee will continue its discussion of the articles of the law next week
(ST)