Senate Election Campaigns Begin March 30

Campaigns for Cameroon's first-ever election of Senators of April 14, 2013 started on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

The Electoral Code of April 19, 2012 regulates the campaigns.Section 87 of the Code states that, " (1) The election campaign shall open on the 15th day preceding the election and close at midnight on the eve of the election day. (2) Candidates may prepare circulars, manifestos or posters, at, their own expense or that of the party presenting their candidatures.

"(3) Such circulars, manifestos or posters shall be in the colour chosen for the candidate or party. They shall bear the initials chosen for printing the ballot papers. (4) The maximum size of the posters prepared for the election campaign shall be determined by decision of the Director General of Elections."

The Electoral Code in Section 95 makes special provisions, "(1)Unless otherwise authorized by the competent administrative authorities with territorial jurisdiction, meetings may not be held on the public highway. (2) The administrative authority may, having regard to local conditions, fix by order the hour after which no meeting may continue."