Vital Kamerhe is poised to reclaim the presidency of the National Assembly. His victory in the primaries on Tuesday, April 23, where he outpaced two of his colleagues from the Sacred Union, paves the way for him to ascend to the speaker’s chair. Both privately and publicly, he is beginning to delineate the contours of his future presidency.
Vital Kamerhe, who previously served as president of the National Assembly from 2006 to 2009, positions himself as a key ally of the head of state while pledging a rigorous and methodical approach. He underscores the constitutional role of the National Assembly as the second institution of the Republic, which he intends to revitalize to better fulfill its mission of overseeing the government, which he reminds is the fourth institution.
Vital Kamerhe eschews any form of flattery and presents himself as the catalyst for fulfilling the promises and vision of Félix Tshisekedi. He emphasizes that the Assembly’s mission is not to hold President Tshisekedi to account but rather to scrutinize the actions of ministers.
Strengthened Oversight of Government Action
To this end, he envisions bolstering governmental oversight, specifying that ministers’ shortcomings should not reflect on the president. He pledges weekly sessions for scrutinizing the executive branch, during which ministers will be summoned by sector to evaluate the implementation of the government’s agenda. He also stresses the importance of the National Assembly’s access to reports from the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) to ensure increased transparency and accountability in public administration.
Will this stance suffice to appease those who accuse him of using this position as a springboard for his presidential ambitions? Close associates of Félix Tshisekedi prefer to withhold judgment until they see his actions unfold.