Michel Bidimbou Explained

Michel Bidimbou Pouela is a Congolese politician who has served as a Deputy in the National Assembly of Congo-Brazzaville since 2007.

Political career

Bidimbou was elected as Secretary-General of the Union for the Republic (UR), a small pro-government party led by Benjamin Bounkoulou, at a party meeting in Nkayi in December 2006.^[1]

In the June - August 2007 parliamentary election, Bidimbou was elected to the National Assembly as the UR candidate in Kayes constituency, located in Bouenza Department. He received 51.83% of the vote.^[2] When the National Assembly began meeting for its new parliamentary term, Bidimbou was designated as Secretary of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Commission on 18 September 2007.^[3] However, the results of the election in Kayes were appealed to the Constitutional Court, and on 26 October 2007 the Constitutional Court overturned the results and ordered a new vote in the constituency.^[4] Bidimbou won the re-vote, which was held on 7 December 2007,^{[5] [6]} receiving 55.43% of the vote against Pierre Ngaka, an independent candidate.^[7]

On 20 March 2011, strong winds damaged houses in Kiossi, a town in Bidimbou's constituency, leaving hundreds of people homeless and causing some injuries. Bidimbou subsequently appealed for help for the affected population, describing the situation in the town as "a humanitarian catastrophe".^[8]

Bidimbou left the UR and joined the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in 2011.^[9]

In the July - August 2012 parliamentary election, Bidimbou stood for re-election in Kayes, this time as a PCT candidate. In the first round of voting, he placed first with 24.16%, slightly ahead of Marc Makouanzi, an independent candidate, who received 22.66%.^[10] He prevailed in the second round of voting with 56.74% of the vote.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Willy Mbossa, "Michel Bidimbou Pouela, secrétaire général de l'Union pour la République : «J'invite les militants à se mobiliser pour prendre en main les destinées de notre grand parti, car le salut est à ce prix.»", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 27 December 2006 .
2. "Les résultats des élections législatives, avant l'examen des contentieux électoraux", La Semaine Africaine, number 2,720, 21 August 2007, page 7 .
3. Cyr Armel Yabbat-Ngo, "Rentrée parlementaire de la 12ème législature: Les bureaux des commissions permanentes ont été enfin élus", La Semaine Africaine, number 2,729, 21 September 2007, page 5 .
4. Roger Ngombé, "Verdict de la Cour constitutionnelle : reprise du scrutin législatif dans quatre circonscriptions électorales", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 27 October 2007 .
5. Gankama N'Siah, "Morts et ressuscités...", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 10 December 2007 .
6. Pascal Azad Doko, "U.r (Union pour la République): Michel Bidimbou Pouela honoré pour sa victoire aux législatives partielles", La Semaine Africaine, number 2,754, 21 December 2007, page 3 .
7. Jean-Claude Nkou, "Résultats des élections législatives partielles", Congo-Site, 28 December 2007 .
8. Pascal-Azad Doko, "Michel Bidimbou, député de Kayes (département de la Bouenza) : «Kiossi est une catastrophe humanitaire»", La Semaine Africaine, 14 January 2012 .
9. Cyr Armel Yabbat-Ngo, "Commentaire : Dur destin pour l'U.r de Benjamin Bounkoulou", La Semaine Africaine, 2 April 2011 .
10. http://lasemaineafricaine.net/index.php/national/4244-resultats-du-premier-tour-des-elections-legislatives-2012 "Résultats du premier tour des élections législatives 2012"
11. http://lasemaineafricaine.net/index.php/national/4350-resultats-du-deuxieme-tour-des-elections-legislatives "Résultats du deuxième tour des élections législatives"