Mauritania’s military leaders offered a fresh sign of their commitment to democracy on Thursday by pledging to hold presidential elections months earlier than expected, in March 2007. The junta seized office last August promising a new era of openness and democracy slated to climax with a handover to an elected president after two years. Speaking to political and civil society leaders and the media, Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar said a presidential poll is scheduled for 11 March 2007, following municipal and parliamentary elections as well as a constitutional referendum. Members of the ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy (MCJD) itself have pledged not to run for the presidency. They were greeted by cheering in the streets when they ousted 21-year president Maaouya Ould Taya in a bloodless coup on 3 August.
Rounding out the upcoming election calendar, the prime minister said a constitutional referendum is scheduled for 24 June 2006; municipal and legislative elections, 19 November 2006; and senatorial elections, 21 January 2007. A national independent electoral commission will be formed in the coming weeks, its 15 members to be selected through consultations with civil society and political parties. Announcement of the electoral programme comes days after the MCJD held broad-based consultations, inviting representatives of political parties and civil society to discuss Mauritania’s transition - another step seen as signaling a new democratic era.
| Well, I'm snowed. I thought it was another routine Night of the Generals. |
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