APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission announced the holding the next combined presidential and parliamentary elections on July 15, 2024.
The announcement comes after the Rwanda Parliament passed a revised constitution in May this year that will allow citizens to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously.
The revised constitution of 2003 constitution as amended in 2015 was given the green light this May 10, 2023, following a petition by President Paul Kagame to have the constitution revised.
Combining the election timelines comes with some articles of the constitution changing and these include:
Article 66 regarding the commencement of the duties of the members of the parliament planned for 30 instead of 15 days after elections, so that sufficient time is allocated to prepare the swearing-in ceremony;
Article 75 regarding the members of the election of the Chamber of Deputies, a fourth paragraph (4) was added to include the time of the MPs’ elections and the election of national president – to be done on the same day.
Article 79 regarding provisions for the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies to allow election to happen and coordinate the timing of the two elections.
Rwandans in the diaspora are expected to vote a day earlier, on July 14, 2024.
CU/as/APA