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2007 Assessment

Cameroon: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Cameroon: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	58
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	75

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - In accordance with the preamble of the constitution of January 18, 1996 (www.prc.cm).

Peer Review Comments: Les Camerounais de l'étranger n'ont pas le droit de vote.

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - In accordance with Article 6, subparagraph 2 and 3 of the constitution of January 18, 1996 for the election of the President of the republic - in accordance with Article 1 subparagraph 1 of the law N°91/20 of December 16, 1991, fixing the conditions of eligilibility of the deputies at the national assembly ([ LINK ]).

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Bernard Ngango, "Le droit des élections politiques au Cameroun: suffrage universel et démocratie", Paris, Atelier national de reproduction des thèses, 2005. -Olinga Alain Didier, "La Constitution de la République du Cameroun", Ydé, Presses de lUCAC, les éditions Terre Africaine, 2006.

Peer Review Comments: Les autorités administratives multiplient les stratagèmes pour empêcher les militants de l'opposition de voter. Tous les électeurs n'ont toujours pas leur carte électorale. Les Camerounais de l'étranger n'ont pas le droit de vote.

Peer Review Comments: By law, a person comes to age at 18, but can only vote when he/she turns 20.

Peer Review Comments: In practice, all adult citizens can vote, provided the adult citizen has all his rights and has not been condemned in the past months. There is a provision in the law for that.

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Thierry Ngogang, "Présidentielle 2004: Il y a 25.000 urnes transparentes," in Mutations, 09/08/2004 (www.lequotidienmutations.net). -Antoine Socpa, "Les dons dans le jeu électoral au Cameroun," in Cahiers d'études africaines, 157, 2000 ([ LINK ]).

Peer Review Comments: People are sometimes paid to show that they voted for a particular party.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Bernard Ngango, "Le droit des élections politiques au Cameroun: Suffrage universel et démocratie," Paris, Atelier national de reproduction des thèses, 2005. - Barrister Francis Djonko, "Le Déroulement du processus électoral du 23 juin 2002" in [ LINK ].

Peer Review Comments: En réalité, seul le président de la République maîtrise le calendrier électoral

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - An accordance with Article 2 of the law N°90/056 of December 19, 1990 on political parties.

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - In accordance with Article 3 (1) of the law N°90/056 of December 19, 1990 on political parties.

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments:

References: - Alain Didier Olinga, "Un parti politique dopposition est-il banal? Le régime juridique des partis politiques," in Sous la direction de Luc Sindjoun (ed), Comment peut-on être opposant au Cameroun? : Politique parlementaire et politique autoritaire, Dakar, Codesria, 2003. - Rosine Moko, "Les partis politiques au Cameroun," in [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: Le ministre de l'Administration territoriale et de la Décentralisation a le pouvoir de refuser la légalisation d'un parti politique de l'opposition. Il peut même suspendre les activités d'un parti déjà créé.

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Antoine Socpa, Les dons dans le jeu électoral au Cameroun, Cahiers d'études africaines, 157, 2000 [ LINK ] - Manasse Aboya Endong, "Democracy inside Political parties in Cameroon: The case of CPDM," in Solon, African review of parliamentarism and democracy, volume II, N° 1, 2003.

Peer Review Comments: The cost is high.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, if they meet the requirements.

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments:

References: - Alain Didier Olinga, "Un parti politique dopposition est-il banal? Le régime juridique des partis politiques", in Sous la direction de Luc Sindjoun (ed), Comment peut-on être opposant au Cameroun?: Politique parlementaire et politique autoritaire, Dakar, Codesria, 2003. - Interview, Dr Manasse Aboya Endong, "Le pays est rentré au monolithisme politique," in Mutations, 2 août 2007 (www.lequotidienmutations.net).

Peer Review Comments: L'opposition est sous representée au Parlement. Suite aux législatives de juin 2007, le parti au pouvoir y compte plus de 3/4 des députés.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, but everything is done to keep the opposition numbers at a strictest minimum.

Peer Review Comments: The opposition's ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics is quite limited. When they have some influence, the ruling party attempts and succeeds in bribing them.