The Mauritanian government has introduced new amendments to the 1991 Political Parties Law, imposing stricter conditions for establishing new parties. These changes have sparked widespread debate and criticism from some opposition figures, who view them as restrictions on political freedoms in a country that adopted political pluralism in 1991.
Details of the Amendments:
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, the government approved these amendments, which it described as “fundamental reforms.” The key new conditions include:
- Increasing the number of members in the party’s founding general assembly from 20 to 150 citizens representing all regions of the country.
- Obtaining endorsements from 5,000 citizens, distributed across at least half of the country’s regions.
- Requiring that no region has fewer than 10% of the party’s total membership.
- Ensuring a minimum representation of 20% women among the party’s members.
- Adhering to principles of national unity, territorial integrity, Islamic values, and democratic principles.
- Opening offices in at least half of the country’s regions within six months of being licensed.
Conditions for Dissolving Parties:
The amendments also outline three scenarios for dissolving political parties:
- Failing to meet any of the legal requirements.
- Automatic dissolution if the party fails to secure 2% of votes in two consecutive local elections.
- Voluntary dissolution by the party itself.
Government Response:
At a press conference, Interior Minister Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed El Amine explained that the amendments aim to “cleanse the political landscape of irregularities, enhance the efficiency of political parties, and make them more credible and effective.”
Opposition Response:
On the other hand, the opposition, represented notably by MP Isliko Ould Abaha, has voiced concerns about these amendments. According to the opposition, these new requirements impose restrictions on political freedoms and limit the establishment of new parties, which could undermine the political pluralism that has defined Mauritania for over three decades.
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