Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

At a press conference in Bamako that included representatives from thirty radio stations, Mali’s national television station and a dozen newspapers, the Chairperson of the CMDID Board, Dr. Sy, announced that a political agreement has now been reached over the upcoming constitutional review process.

Background

Mali’s President Touré, popularly known as ATT, mandated a small committee in 2008 to organise a consultative process to come up with strategies to strengthen Malian democracy. This ‘Daba Diawarra’ committee came up with no less than 233 recommendations.

The CMDID then facilitated internal party consultations in order to ensure that all political parties actively participated in the reform process. As a result of CMDID’s involvement, two senior level inter-party meetings were held in order to determine points of consensus as well as mutual differences.

Points of Agreement

During the press conference, Dr. Sy informed Malian citizens that all parties agree with the need for a mixed electoral system and the creation of a Senate. The parties also agree with the recommendations on adopting legislation on various issues, including floor crossing, the need to limit campaigning funds and equal access to public media.

One important outcome is that the parties agreed that there is need to specify within the Constitution that the terms and length of the presidential mandate cannot be changed.

Another agreement deals with the creation of a single, independent electoral management structure, to replace the four institutions, not all of which are independent from government, that currently manage the process.

Points of Contention

However, the majority of parties disagreed with the ‘Daba Diawara’ committee’s recommendations on the issue of the nomination of constitutional court judges by the President. On this issue, the parties felt that the commission's proposal to nominate former republican Presidents as constitutional court judges might not be such a good idea.

In addition, the majority of parties also disagreed with recommendations regarding the organisation of by-elections and the role of the Speaker of Parliament.

CMDID has ensured the ongoing commitment of political parties, at a very senior level, to the ongoing democratic reform process. In the upcoming months, various political education activities will be organised in order to continue to inform the general public on these issues.