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Government and politics Last elections: October 2011 (presidential), 14 April 2013 (senate), 30 September 2013 (parliamentary and local) Next elections: 2018 (presidential), 2018 (senate), 2018 (parliamentary and local) Head of State: President Paul Biya Head of Government: the President Ruling party: Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement In the June 2002 general election, the third since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990, the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) gained 133 seats, substantially extending its parliamentary majority, while the Social Democratic Front (SDF) took 21 (mainly in the English-speaking North-West), the Union for Democracy and Change (UDC) five and Union of the Populations of Cameroon three. Elections in nine constituencies with 17 Assembly seats were annulled by the Supreme Court and re-run in September 2002, when 16 were won by the CPDM. Incumbent President Paul Biya won a landslide victory in the October 2004 presidential election receiving 75 per cent of the votes. The elections in July 2007 extended the ruling CPDM’s majority in the National Assembly. On announcement of the results, 103 petitions for annulment were filed with the Supreme Court. A re-run ordered by the Court for 17 of the 180 seats in September 2007 resulted in reducing the CPDM’s holding to 153 seats; while SDF took 16, the National Union for Democracy and Progress six, UDC four and Progressive Movement one. Came r o o n In early 2008 the National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits which opened the way for President Biya to seek re-election. Biya won the presidential election in October 2011 increasing his share of the vote to about 78.0 per cent. His main rival in a field of more than 20 candidates was John Fru Ndi (SDF) who secured about 10.7 per cent of the vote. The election was observed by a Commonwealth expert team. In the first Senate elections, held on 14 April 2013, the ruling CPDM won 56 of the 70 elective seats and the SDF 14. National Assembly and local elections were held on 30 September 2013. Local government Ministry: Territorial Administration and Decentralisation Local government is provided for by Laws 17 (on decentralisation), 18 (councils) and 19 (regions) of 2004 and it is also enshrined in the constitution, together with a higher tier of regional councils which had yet to be implemented in 2012. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation is responsible for local government. There are 374 elected councils for the purpose of local government, including 14 city councils and 45 district councils that are subsidiary to the city councils. Local elections are held every five years. The local authorities raise revenue from taxes and fees, and receive transfers from national government. They are responsible for primary education, health, social services, utilities and town planning, though the district councils in the cities deliver a smaller range of services. National development plan Cameroon Vision 2035 expresses the aspirations of Cameroonians to be a united nation enjoying peace and security; democracy; decentralised administration; prosperity; and universal access to quality social services. The agenda for development planning was set in 2003 by a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Policy The priorities of the Poverty Reduction Strategy are: • Macro-economic stability • Diversification of the economy • Revitalising the private sector’s ability to deliver social services • Developing basic infrastructure and natural resources, while protecting the environment Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 151 Governance institutions Elections Cameroon: www.elecam.cm National Assembly of Cameroon: www.assemblenationale.cm Supreme Court of Cameroon: www.coursupreme.cm National Agency for Financial Investigation: www.anif.cm National Anti-Corruption Commission: www.conaccameroun. net Office of the President: www.prc.cm Bank of Central African States: www.beac.int Douala Stock Exchange: www.douala-stockexchange. com Standards and Quality Agency: www.anorcameroun.com Telecommunications Regulatory Board: www.art.cm


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