After Mexico, India, South Africa which you have spoken to us about in recent weeks, there is still talk of an election this week. There will be legislative elections in France on June 30, and the day before, June 29, a presidential election in Mauritania
The June 29 election in Mauritania does not seem to arouse great enthusiasm in the Sahel country least affected by terrorist violence and political instability. Essentially because the outgoing president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, candidate for a second and final term, is widely favored against his six rivals, the best known of whom is the human rights activist Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, who came second in the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.
President Ghazouani, who is also the current current president of the African Union, has the typical profile of Mauritanian heads of state since independence: he spent his career in the army, notably serving as chief of staff of the armed forces before becoming Minister of Defense under his predecessor, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, sentenced last December to five years of imprisonment for “illicit enrichment” and “laundering”.
Mauritania has taken small steps in its democratization since the last coup d’état in 2008, you say…
Yes, this coup d’état had overthrown Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, the elected civilian president who had just dismissed the most influential generals in the army, including Ould Abdel Aziz who then commanded the Presidential Security Battalion. If the page on coups d’état has been turned, we must hope so for the long term, that of a permanent political influence of the military hierarchy is clearly not yet.
But beyond politics, this election is a good time to take an interest in the state of the country in different areas, from the economy to health, including education and the environment. We offer on the website Wathi a selection of documents on these sectors in addition to the presentation of the candidates’ biographies and the outline of their programs.
By observing the results of elections in countries as different as India, the United States, France or Italy, and the rise of parties promoting extremist discourse, you believe that we must discuss the limits and shortcomings electoral exercises all over the world
Yes. But let us be clear, it is not a question of giving arguments to those who prefer the taking of power and maintaining power by force, but it is a question of highlighting the flaws of electoral competitions by deciphering the real political practices and the factors that are increasingly decisive for winning an election in today’s world.
I do not think that we still sufficiently measure the impact on electoral choices of the bombardment of information carefully selected by politically oriented private media, or even the impact on voters of the famous “alternative truths”, that is- that is to say lies, relayed massively on social networks. The most simplistic political speeches, which free themselves from any requirement for factual accuracy and analytical depth, are extremely effective in gaining popularity.
On immigration, a favorite subject of far-right parties in Europe, political leaders at the highest level can repeat completely erroneous figures all day long on net inflows of migrants without the slightest embarrassment or contradiction.
We are well on our way to seeing political actors arrive at the head of several democratic countries whose only qualities are their mastery of political communication and marketing and the absence of ethical limits with regard to the speeches and manipulations which can enable them to win votes. elections.
For further :
Mauritania Election Initiative, Background documents, biographies and programs of candidates
