According to the results published by the Independent Electoral Commission(IEC) on January 20 2007, the Alliance for the Presidential Majority (AMP) of president Joseph Kabila have achieved an absolute majority with 58 senate seats out of a total of 108. In contrast, the Union for the Nation (UpN) of Jean Pierre Bemba won a total of 21 seats.

The People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) of Joseph Kabila won 22 seats among the 58 of the AMP, while the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) of Jean Pierre Bemba won 14 seats out of the 21 for his UpN political umbrella group.

After winning the majority of the seats in the Senate, the AMP is expected to preside over the office of the Senate, and control the two chambers of parliament, after obtaining 332 seats out of 500 in the National Assembly.

The senators, elected for a renewable five year mandate, will meet on February 3 2007 for an extraordinary session. It must be remembered that according to the Constitution, the parliament must meet twice in an ordinary session every year.

On Monday January 22 the IEC will then transfer the provisional results to the Supreme Court to examine any contestations, and this will take a maximum of two months. In the next three days, losing candidates can place contestations against the provisional results.

The next elections (first round) will be for the governors and vice governors, envisaged for January 27 2007, and if a second round is necessary, this will take place on January 30 2007.