BUJUMBURA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Burundi's Constitutional Court has approved the presidential candidacy of former president Domitien Ndayizeye after the country's electoral body declined his application for the May 20 elections.
A court hearing held here on Thursday ruled that Ndayizeye, representing the Kira-Burundi coalition, had met the requirements to run for the presidency set by the Burundian National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI).
On March 10, the CENI had rejected Ndayizeye's application and three other hopefuls' by saying they did not meet the requirements stipulated by the country's constitution or the electoral code.
The CENI said that the four candidates can appeal against the decision to the Constitutional Court within two days.
The appeals of two other applicants including Valentin Kavakure for the National People's Front (FPN-Imboneza) party and Anicet Niyonkuru for the Council of the Patriots (CDP) party were rejected due to a shortfall in the number and qualifications of nominees.
The fourth candidate, Jacques Bigirimana of the National Liberation Forces, withdrew his appeal on March 16 at the request of his party.
The approval of Ndayizeye's candidacy brings the number of candidates to seven.
Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was president from 2003-2005, will represent the ruling party, the CNDD-FDD. The current Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza will not run for office.
