by Stephane Orjollet
ABIDJAN, Nov 21 (AFP) - Charismatic Ivorian opposition leader Alassane
Ouattara is once again the focus of suspense here as the country waits to
hear
whether he will be allowed stand in upcoming legislative elections.
Ouattara, a popular former prime minister, was barred from standing in
last
month's presidential poll, under constitutional changes brought in by the
regime of former military ruler General Robert Guei.
A Supreme Court ruling then said he had suspect identity documents and
had
in the past used another nationality, that of Ivory Coast's northern
neighbour
Burkina Faso.
On Wednesday the National Electoral Commission will announce which
candidates are eligible to stand in the December 10 vote.
Ouattara's name is the one everyone will be watching out for.
Whilst a presidential hopeful, Ouattara, who leads the Rally of
Republicans
(RDR), had said he would not stand for a seat in the national assembly.
But last week he announced he would run for the northern Kong
constituency,
standing in for his brother who was taking retirement.
Ouattara's opponents reacted with indignation.
Notre Voie newspaper, the mouthpiece of new president Laurent Gbagbo's
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party immediately published a piece on problem
candidacies.
"Under what pretext can Ouattara's candidacy be retained?" the article
asked.
Ouattara's supporters clashed violently with Gbagbo supporters last month
after Guei's ouster, and at least 100 people were killed.
Ouattara's supporters were calling for fresh polls. They have since
reluctantly accepted Gbagbo's victory, with both Ouattara and the new
president stressing the need for peace and reconciliation.
The electoral commission has the first call on candidates, but then any
voter on the electoral list is allowed to contest a candidacy the commission
approves.
If that happens -- and many here say that is inevitable -- the case goes
before the Supreme Court, the body which last time ruled against Ouattara.
Ouattara's lawyers say they are hopeful this time, pointing out the the
conditions of eligibility for the legislatives are less restrictive than for
the presidency.
They say that the list of objections presented by the Supreme Court
barring
Ouattara from the presidential race contains no elements that could exclude
him from the legislatives.
RDR lawyers also claim the first decision was a political one "motivated
by
circumstances".
Most here say the Supreme Court was the puppet of the former military
regime, after Guei placed his former legal adviser, Tia Kone, at its head.
"Now the circumstances have changed, we are not worried," said lawyer
Emmanuel Assi.
The new government is holding up the separation of powers in the state to
wash its hands of the matter.
"It is not for the government to say whether Mr Ouattara can be a
candidate
in the legislative elections," said Defence Minister Moise Lida Kouassi.
"Individual voters can contest the eligibility of a candidate, then it is
up to the Supreme Court. The government does not figure at any stage of the
process," he added.
As from Wednesday, voters have three days to contest a candidacy. The
candidate has two days to reply and the Supreme Court has another three days
to rule.
so/crl/kc
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