electoral body, Republic, either as political 13 through various entities, representatives personalities (President represent of political of the the parties, Republic, President of the or representatives President of the of National Assembly, various Ministers) or as representatives of the institutions under his control (High Judicial Council). 138. The Applicant further submits that the said members can, during elections, tilt the balance in favour of the President of the Republic who is a candidate for his own succession, or in favour of partisan candidates at the expense of independent candidates and candidates of the Opposition. 139. The Applicant in conclusion maintained that by adopting the impugned law, the Respondent before State violated the law and several its commitment the right to equal international human especially Democracy Governance the Charter on (Article to protect protection the Rights 10 (3), the ECOWAS to equality by the law as enshrined rights instruments to which Human rights (Article Protocol the State is a Party, 3), the African on in Democracy (Article 3), the Universal Declaration of Human Charter and on Good Rights (Article 1), and the Covenant (Article 26). 140. The Respondent understand State refutes this allegation, arguing that it is difficult to the Applicant's complaint over the representation of the so-called independent candidates because according to the Respondent State such a claim challenges the strong presence of members appointed by the political parties or the political authorities. 141. It further contends that no provision of the impugned law deprives Ivorian citizens that have fulfilled the requisite conditions of the right to participate in the public affairs of their country. 32 @ © 2—