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Burundi's constitutional court dismisses 8 MPs of opposition

Xinhua, March 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Burundian constitutional court has issued a ruling whereby it dismissed eight opposition MPs who never attended parliamentary sessions since June when the new parliament was elected, the speaker of the Burundian National Assembly Pascal Nyabenda said Tuesday.

Nyabenda told MPs the content of ruling after the adoption of a weekly timetable of activity work plan at the east African country's National Assembly (lower chamber of the parliament).

The ruling of the constitutional court was issued last week on March 25 in a letter to the speaker of the National Assembly who had requested the constitutional court to deliberate on the vacancy of eight seats at the National Assembly since legislative elections in June 2015.

"Considering the vacancy of eight seats since June and unjustified absence during parliamentary activities, eight MPs have lost their quality of MPs," said the constitutional court ruling.

The eight MPs were part of candidates of the Burundians' Hope opposition coalition.

The coalition was co-led by Agathon Rwasa, currently First Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly and Charles Nditije, claiming chairmanship of the Union for National Progress (UPRONA) opposition party.

The coalition had received 30 MPs but MPs loyal to Rwasa took their seats, but those loyal to Nditije refused them, arguing that the legislative elections were unfair and incredible.

The eight MPs who have lost their quality of MPs include Bernard Busokoza, Jacques Gasuhuke, Mireille Mizero, Therence Ndikumasabo, Charles Nditije, Evariste Ngayimpenda, Yves Sahinguvu and Tatien Sibomana.

The UPRONA spokesman said that they were expecting that ruling.

"It is not news and it does not mean anything to us. We had been expecting that measure for a long time," said UPRONA Spokesman Tatien Sibomana. Endit