The campaign for legislative and municipal elections in Mauritania has started in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania, despite a boycott by a large part of the opposition which has dismissed the process as a sham.
The ruling party's leader, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed Lemine, called his supporters to mobilize to give the Union for the Republic (UPR) a comfortable majority that would allow President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz complete his program and Mauritanian democracy to accomplish developmental projects for the good of all citizens.
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed Lemine regretted the boycott of the elections by ten of the eleven parties forming the Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD), arguing that the decision is not justified in view of the political and electoral reforms accomplished in the country so far.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 1,096 candidates had registered to vie for the leadership of 218 local councils across the nation while 438 people were contesting 147 seats in parliament and has urged all 64 parties and politicians to show competition and responsible civic behavior by promoting their programs and candidates while remaining open, tolerant and respect the competitor during the campaign.1.2 million voters are eligible to vote during the elections.
allAfrica.com
