Legislative, Municipal Elections: Political Parties Intensify Preparations

P olitical parties, both those represented in Parliament and others without representation are already preparing for the upcoming legislative and muni­ cipal elections whose electorate can be convened to the polls anytime soon by the President of the Republic. Currently, there are over 360 legalised political parties in Cameroon and the main objective, when one talks to their representatives, is to expand their strongholds. Gai­ ning seats at the National As­ sembly or in Municipal Councils (either as Mayors or Councillors) cuts across as ultimate goal for legalised political parties in the country. While some envisage making a maiden entrance into the law-making House, others want to expand their consti­ tuency grip as well as occupying the helm in more municipalities. It is therefore against this back­ drop that political parties are intensifying activities through greater mobilisation on the field. From a general observation, stra­ tegic meetings are being held, supporters rallied, voter regis­ tration encouraged, the list of potential candidates for posi­ tions being constituted and ne­ gotiations for possible alliances ongoing. Traditional and social media space have recently been filled with either the strategic meeting of the Cameroon’s Peo­ ple’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), the press conference of the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), as well as activities of the Ca­ meroon Democratic Union (CDU), the National Union for Demo­ cracy and Progress (NUDP) and the Cameroonian Party for Na­ tional Reconciliation (PCRN), just to name a few. Political parties of the Presidential Majority and those of G20, who are also car­ rying out activities in different regions of the country, geared at increas...