The defense and security forces voted early on Tuesday for the second round of the legislative elections on July 31. No incidents were reported by the Electoral Commission. This vote represents a simple formality for the Congolese Labor Party (PCT, in power) which won 102 of the 151 seats in the assembly in the first round.
With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loicia Martial
The vote was instead characterized by “military discipline” according to a source contacted at the Electoral Commission. The voters all or almost all presented themselves in fatigues, wearing their berets.
In the 25 constituencies concerned, operations were not disrupted. Except for a slight delay in the district of Tchiamba Nzassi near Pointe-Noire, the economic capital.
They did not start at 7 a.m., as required by electoral law, according to the testimony of this electoral agent who requested anonymity. ” We opened the office at 8:45. The soldiers arrive timidly because it is not a ghost town day. It’s an open day. There are soldiers who live in the barracks. You will see that they will arrive around 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. en masse “.
Polling stations were closed at 6 p.m. local time. The ballot boxes have been sealed and the compilation will only take place after the general vote on 31 July.
The defense and security forces are among the more than 2.9 million voters, but the first round was marked by a high rate of abstention.
In the 25 constituencies in the ballot, there are 14 candidates from the PCT, the ruling party. He had already won at the end of the first round on July 10, 102 of the 151 seats in the lower house of parliament.