II ~I ~ ~II~ ~~ ~II ~ ~II - IFES

IFES Pre-electionAssessment:Burundistation. This will have the benefit of instilling confidence in the voter. The IFES teambelieves that the total process can be made more efficient and honest if the electors know inadvance what is supposed to happen in a polling station. In Burundi, legislative elections areby "blocked list", a complicated system which is difficult even for experts to understand. Aneffort must be made to explain this system to the voters.Political PartiesThere are obvious inequities with regard to campaigning in Burundi under a multi-party system.Currently, there is very little funding of the new parties once they are accredited. However,UPRONA, the only party for the past 30 years, is adequately funded, but little is known aboutthe source of its funds. Without funding,. other political parties will be playing on an unevenfield. The law prohibits parties from obtaining funds from foreign sources. The IFES teambelieves that the Government of Burundi should consider establishing a system that will createa more equitable situation. The IFES team recommends that discussions begin immediatelywith the Government of Burundi in an effort to establish a system of funding for politicalparties wishing to participate in the forthcoming national elections.Assistance to a Free PressThere is a small free press in Burundi. It is difficult to establish a free press in a country whichhas not practiced the free expression of opinion in the last 30 years. The facilities are nonexistent,and printing, where available, is archaic. The IFES team believes that assistance inestablishing a neutral commercial printing facility would permit not only the creation of civiceducation material, but also provide the country with a commercial printing facility. GivenI existing economic risks, it is difficult to think in terms of a viable free-enterprise type of',operation. , Assistance could be best given through a non-governmental organization currently'in Burundi.42