Burkina Faso: Dr. Zacharia Tiemtoré’s proposals for the elections

In 1932, our grandparents had to set aside their differences, swallow their pride and individual ambition, and together demand that our country be reconstituted within its original borders.

Fifteen long years of struggle, sacrifice, sweat, and bloodshed to continue to exist. As their heirs, we must surely carry this legacy in our DNA.

The voice of patriots capable of uniting, without regard for petty and artificial squabbles, to protect and safeguard our country. Well, the time has come to use this capacity for unity of hearts and forces, for the danger that threatens us is not fundamentally different from that of the last century. Let us not be mistaken: if this collective awakening does not occur now, the country in its current form could disappear.

It is true that in the world of the mobile, living, breathing, power always stirs up covetousness, but there are times in the life of a nation when this becomes meaningless.

It is a fact that in less than six months, the mandate of those we have appointed (the Presidency and the National Assembly) to act on our behalf will expire. What should we do?

Hold the elections on schedule despite the severely deteriorated security situation, or postpone them indefinitely? Positions on this issue are hardening, fault lines are appearing, and our divisions are deepening. Our social contract is slowly eroding. Yet, tacticians and strategists regularly say that the course of action must be dictated by the situation on the ground. So, why, in such circumstances, don’t we allow the situation on the ground to inspire our imagination, unleash our creative genius, and forge solutions outside of rigid frameworks?

We hear the argument of respecting the Constitution and its provisions. But we also hear the truth that this very Constitution is merely a tool serving the common good and must, under no circumstances, become an obstacle to cohesion. For, beyond the Constitution, it is human life and the preservation of our ancestral land that are sacred. Let us therefore dare to reinvent ourselves.

We have five months to build a national consensus around another form of electing our representatives, even if only provisionally, in order to remain united in the face of cruel adversity. If the legitimacy of power corresponds to what is just and founded on an ethical basis, then it cannot be confined solely to the logic of universal suffrage, especially given how corrupted universal suffrage is in our country.

Therefore, faced with this multifaceted crisis that is weakening and fragmenting the country, and with a view to resolving the electoral issue, so that we can dedicate ourselves, together, to the fight against insecurity and the disintegration of our nation, we suggest the following alternative, the details of which will be provided later:

– A national consultation to validate the proposed approach;

– A freeze, through amendments, of the provisions of the Constitution that are not applicable in the current context;

– The establishment of a non-partisan and highly ethical candidate selection committee to propose criteria for running in the presidential and legislative elections. This committee may, if necessary, receive technical support from experts at the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

– A pre-selection of candidates by the committee based on pre-defined criteria (desired leadership profiles in crisis situations);

– The establishment of an electoral college (between 2,000 and 3,000 people) randomly selected from the electoral register or that of the National Identification Office (ONI) and constituted according to the quota method;

– The election of a President of Burkina Faso and regional representatives by the electoral college after oral presentations by the candidates;

– The investiture and swearing-in ceremony.

This alternative approach (which has been partially tested in Burkina Faso in the recent past) will be accompanied by details regarding the duration of the mandates thus obtained and the conditions under which they will be exercised (the relevant ideas will be discussed in due course).

By courageously venturing off the beaten path, we will give ourselves the opportunity to provide the country with legitimate elected officials and leaders without further endangering the lives of the people and candidates. The tens of billions (see the CENI budget for the elections) allocated for organizing the universal suffrage election, as well as the significant savings on the budgets of the Presidency and the National Assembly (through a downsizing of these institutions), can thus be saved and reallocated to combating insecurity and improving the living conditions of the population and workers. The enormous sums poured into the election campaign will no longer be necessary and will no longer cloud the voters’ choices. Instead, they can be used to create jobs and make investments for the future. The fraud that distorts the vote and often transforms elections into social time bombs in our region will be rendered impossible under the proposed system.

It is true that some citizens may feel frustrated at not being part of the electoral college, but this will only be a passing emotion and certainly the price to pay: a necessary sacrifice for the sake of the country to prevent it from becoming even more fragile.

We know full well that compromise is never the same as the ideal, yet it is necessary and crucial, especially when danger is at hand. With humility and a sense of responsibility, we must think of the country we will bequeath to our children and future generations. Therefore, let us find the solutions and, together, embark on this patriotic transitional phase in our nation’s life. Let us reclaim the lost parts of our territory and reunite with our lost compatriots, and let us rise to the level of sacrifice of our predecessors so as not to add to the division fueled by hatred. This is why the ultimate priority of those who will be candidates to act, in the name of the people, during this specific period of resistance and struggle for the survival of the country will be to bring us all together, rural as well as urban…regardless of our ethnic, religious or political affiliation.