Former DR Congo Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde has been elected as new President of the Senate following elections held late on Monday.
Sama Lukonde who has been widely criticized for having an underwhelming track performance despite having served several key government position, returns to another key state role in the DR Congo after his term as Prime Minister from February 2021 to February 2024.
He was elected to be the Head of the DR Congo parliament’s upper house after garnering 84 votes out of 95, during the ballot to elect the members of a permanent bureau.
Sama Lukonde thus succeeded Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, also a candidate of the Sacred Union, who was elected second vice-president.
Jose Kalala Wa Kalala, a candidate also designated by the Sacred Union, was elected first vice-president.
Meanwhile, popular opposition Ensemble Pour la Republique’s candidate for the role of Deputy Rapporteur of the Senate Salomon Kalonda Della lost his bid to Jean-Claude Baende in a tight race for the strategic position reserved for the political opposition.
Kalonda Della managed to poll 43 votes compared to Baende’s 52 votes in an outcome that has raised eyebrows over the balancing of the upper house.
While the position Deputy Rapporteur is strategically reserved for the opposition, Baende is seen as a close associate of the ruling party and President Félix Tshisekedi.
