afrol News, 29 April - The national parties of the three autonomous islands forming the Comoran Union have won the legislative elections in Comoros, giving a blow to federal President and strongman Azali Assoumani. The ex-military leader will have to co-govern Comoros with an opposition dominated federal parliament.

Official results from parliamentary elections in Comoros were made public yesterday. They show a surprisingly big defeat for President Assoumani, who earlier had been accused of rigging the presidential poll in April 2002. The presidential elections on each of the islands had produced clear opposition victories. Federal parliamentary elections were postponed several times as President Assoumani expected to lose.

Meanwhile, a South African-guided peace and reconciliation deal was reached earlier this year, aimed at ending the conflict between President Assoumani and the Presidents of the three autonomous islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. A basic condition in the agreement was the holding of elections for a federal parliament on 18 and 25 April.

According to the official results, President Assoumani's party won six seats in the new parliament, while the regional opposition parties won twelve seats. A further 15 seats in the federal parliament are to be appointed by the three island parliaments, thus mostly strengthening the anti-Assoumani bloc. The opposition to the federal President thus ay get a three quarter majority in the new parliament.

It is widely believed that the representatives of the three islands' national parties will use their overwhelming majority to push for greater autonomy. The many disputes over who is in power of departments like treasury, customs and the police may thus be tilted in favour of the three islands' authorities with the blessing of the new federal parliament.

The role of the federal parliament is mostly defined to lawmaking and budgeting. It is to approve the legislation that defines the power-sharing between central authorities and the islands. It will have powers to allocate funds between the islands and between federal departments. The parliament however doesn't appoint the government, which is up to the President.

The national parties of the three islands however do not have much more than their opposition to President Assoumani and autonomy desires in common. So far, the parties only have defined a loose coalition between them. New rivalries between the three islands are not ruled out as federal funds are to be distributed.

The election results however reflect the wishes of the people of the islands Anjouan and Moheli regarding full autonomy. While the islanders of Grande Comore, which hosts federal institutions, are more in favour of one united state, opposition to President Assoumani is profound. The ex-military ruler is widely seen to have stolen the 2002 election, which only was held on Grande Comore, and of disrespecting democratic guidelines.

Foreign observers in Comoros nevertheless are concerned the opposition's election victory may contribute to prolonging the conflict between central and local authority. The strength of the anti-Assoumani bloc may lead to an unprecedented decentralisation of power, which may be desired by the Comoran people but will be seen as a humiliation by the President and the military.

President Assoumani has led the Comoran transition process from his own military regime and civil war among the islands to the creation of a federal Comoro Union. He however broke with earlier agreements when he contested the federal presidency in 2002. His term officially ends next year, in accordance with the presidential rotation system between the islands.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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