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afrol News, 22 November - In a statement issued yesterday, the European Commission welcomed "the smooth organisation, the manner and the results of the two rounds of local and parliamentary elections held in Mauritania on 19 and 26 October." Also the opposition had earlier expressed satisfaction with the elections, though gained by the ruling party. In the October legislative and municipal elections, the ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS) won the majority of seats, although the opposition made ground in the municipals and, for the first time became strongly represented on many of the 216 local councils. The European Commission states the elections "allowed for proper participation of all electors in an atmosphere of normality and democratic openness." The European Union also welcomed "the fact that the results of those local and parliamentary elections reflect the political pluralism shown by the Mauritanian electorate." Responding to earlier claims by the Mauritanian opposition, the "political climate" in Mauritania was "worsening", the EU called on the authorities and on all Mauritanian parties to "maintain a constructive political dialogue" after the successful elections. They should also "strengthen confidence in democratic institutions and create an environment in which all shades of opinion can be freely expressed." The opposition only had one seat in the previous parliament due to a boycott of the last elections over allegations of vote rigging. In the October elections, the opposition won 10 seats, while President Ould Taya's PRDS party took 56 of the assembly's 81 seats. About one million voters were estimated to have participated in legislative and municipal elections. Voter turnout was low in the capital Nouakchott, but polls in the hinterland recorded a higher turnout. No major disturbances or violent acts were recorded in the electoral campaign. President Taya has been in power for 17 years. He first came to power in a military coup, but won multi-party elections in 1992. Since his government established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999, political unrests have marked the country. Several opposition parties were thus banned and one former presidential candidate was accused of "criminal conspiracy" in a Nouakchott court. Press freedom and the freedom of association were curtailed, but were again relaxed before the elections.
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