A spokesman for Burundi’s independent opposition coalition said the proposal by the electoral commission to change the dates for national elections has no standing because Burundi has no legally constituted electoral commission. Francois Bizimana, spokesman for Mizero Y’Barundi, or “Hope for All Burundians,” said the commission lacks a quorum because three of its five members have fled the country. Burundi’s constitution stipulates that the commission must make decisions by consensus which requires that four out of its five members be present.
The National Independent Election Commission Monday proposed June 26 as the date for legislative polls, followed by the presidential election July 15, and a senatorial vote July 24. A senior adviser to President Pierre Nkurunziza told VOA the president must agree to the proposed dates by decree.
Bizimana, however, said the electoral commission’s proposal is not valid. “Article 19 of our constitution says that the electoral commission is composed by five members. Now, we have only three members out of five and for taking decisions. We need four members out of five. The proposal made by our electoral commission is not valid because we don’t have the quorum for taking decisions,” he said.
Full Article: Burundi Opposition Rejects New Election Timetable.