At exactly midnight, supporters of the ruling party RPF-Inkotanyi in Paris, France, jubilantly kicked off the campaigns for the July presidential and parliamentary elections. RPF supporters met at Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, hours before – in Rwanda – President Paul Kagame, the Chairman and flagbearer of the governing RPF-Inkotanyi, on Saturday, June 22, started canvassing for votes ahead of next month’s presidential and legislative elections. The party’s campaign rally at Pont Neuf is the first of many activities planned in France during the campaign period. Kagame and his RPF party, along with a group of allied parties, launched their campaigns in Musanze District, setting in motion a three-week campaign trail. ALSO READ: A look at Rwanda's three presidential candidates The campaigns begin on June 22 and run through July 13, a day before Rwandans in the diaspora vote the Head of State and 53 Members of Parliament elected from candidates proposed by political organisations and independent candidates. Rwandans in the country will vote on July 15. Rwandans will go to the polls from July 14-15 to pick the next Head of State and members of the Chamber of Deputies, the country's Lower House, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). Speaking about the ongoing preparations and the journey to the campaign trail, RPF Secretary General, Wellars Gasamagera, said the party was optimistic ahead of the campaign trail, noting that their presidential candidate will be “more than ready” to unveil the party's manifesto to the country. ALSO READ: Hundreds of candidates hit campaign trail as Rwanda gears up for general elections Kagame is vying for the presidency, along with two challengers; Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate. The RPF-led coalition will launch its presidential campaign at the University of Rwanda’s campus in Busogo in Musanze, Northern Province. The coalition has 80 parliamentary candidates, the majority of whom are RPF members.
