Comoros held a parliamentary election, boycotted by some opposition leaders due to concerns over authoritarianism and electoral integrity. With around 330,000 registered voters, a low turnout is anticipated, reflecting public disillusionment. President Azali Assoumani’s government faces criticism for past election fraud and political repression. Despite a looming cyclone, voting continued on schedule.
Comoros recently conducted a parliamentary election, which was met with a boycott from several opposition leaders. They accused President Azali Assoumani and his party of adopting increasingly authoritarian measures, thereby raising concerns regarding the electoral integrity. The election aims to fill the 33 seats in the legislature, with results anticipated next week by the national electoral commission.
Approximately 330,000 eligible voters are registered in Comoros, which has a total population of 850,000. Despite this, opposition parties predict a low voter turnout, reflecting widespread disillusionment with the democratic process. During the previous parliamentary election in 2020, Assoumani’s party, the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros, gained 20 out of 24 contested seats, although the legitimacy of that election was called into question by various opposition factions.
President Assoumani cast his vote in his hometown, yet the opposition criticized the electoral process as deceptive and unfair. Following his re-election last year, which was similarly contested, violent protests erupted against the government. The Juwa Party, led by former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, notably participated in the boycott, repeating their stance from the 2020 election.
Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, has endured numerous military coups since independence from France in 1975. President Assoumani, a former military officer, has overseen a significant period of political turmoil. Since returning to power in 2016, he has enacted constitutional revisions eliminating term limits, facilitating his continuous presidency amidst allegations of political oppression and non-competitive elections by authoritative observers.
Despite the adverse weather conditions posed by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi, officials confirmed that voting proceeded as scheduled, showcasing the ongoing challenges faced by the electoral process within the archipelago.
The parliamentary election in Comoros was significantly overshadowed by opposition boycotts, stemming from concerns over the government’s increasing authoritarianism and previous election irregularities. With a history marked by coups and political strife under President Assoumani, the integrity of the electoral process remains a pivotal issue, as demonstrated by the low turnout expectations and criticism from multiple parties. The situation reflects significant challenges to democratic practices in Comoros.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
