As part of the renovated form of Government communication, Mr MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA, granted this Wednesday, 20 June 2007, in the Conference Hall of his Ministry, an important press briefing centred on the practical preparations of the upcoming 22 July legislative and municipal elections. You will find here attached the entire introductory remarks made by the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation on this occasion.

The Minister of Communication,
Journalists,

Permit me to, first of all, welcome you to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. I would also like to thank you for your positive and massive response to this press conference.

As we all know, following Presidential Decree No. 2007/112 of 20 April 2007 to convene the electorate for the 22 July 2007 legislative and municipal elections, our country is, once more, moving towards a major political event. At the end of these elections, the National Assembly and municipal councils will be renewed.

Following this important presidential Decree and while waiting for the effective take-off of ELECAM, my ministry is still playing a transitory role in the practical organization of elections and, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions, two orders were signed last May 31, publishing the list of candidates retained for the twin elections.

This represents 1,302 (one thousand, three hundred and two) candidates running for the 180 (one hundred and eighty) seats at the National Assembly and 26,608 (twenty six thousand, six hundred and eight) posts in the municipal councils of our 360 (three hundred and sixty) councils. There are candidates from 45 (forty-five) political parties for legislative elections and from 33 (thirty-three) parties for municipal elections. Electoral disputes relating to this publication have already been cleared by the appropriate legal institutions and we do not need to make any particular comment about them, given that these have to do with irrevocable legal decisions.

The order determining the number of polling stations is ready and will be published at least 20 (twenty) days before polling day, in accordance with the regulations in force. May I inform you that, for the upcoming legislative and municipal elections, there are 21, 874 (twenty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four) polling stations distributed all over the national territory.

Before the beginning of the electoral campaigns scheduled for the days ahead, we deemed it necessary for us to meet so that, together, we could make a general appraisal solely on the practical preparations of these twin elections, which, in our opinion, are of major importance for the advancement of our democratic system.