The Liberal Party (known by its French acronym, PL) today launched its nationwide legislative campaign for its 64 candidates in Rusizi District, Western Province. According to François Byabarumwanzi, one of the party’s flagbearers in the September 16 poll, PL sought to start strong on the first day of the 21-day campaign period. “It is good to show the voters that you are a serious contender from day one,” he told The New Times from Rusizi. In Rusizi, the party’s stalwarts were welcomed by hundreds of people. PL is among the eight political parties that are vying for the 53 seats in parliament. A coalition of five parties led by the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) is widely tipped to win the majority of seats in the poll. The others in the race are the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Social Party (PS-Imberakuri). There are also four independent candidates in the running but no one has ever joined the Chamber of Deputies on an individual ticket because previous independents have all fallen short of the 5 per cent threshold of the total votes cast. The Lower Chamber of Parliament has 80 members, but only 53 slots are openly contested for through universal adult suffrage, while the other 27 are reserved for special interest groups, namely women (24), the youth (2) and the disabled (1). Candidates seeking to represent these special interest groups in the August House are also on the campaign trail.
