XXᵉ siècle
South Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The 1994 South African general election marked the country’s first democratic national vote after apartheid. On April 27, millions of Black and white South Africans waited in long lines to cast ballots, while international observers certified the election as fair and open. For Black South Africans, it was the first time they had been permitted to vote nationally. The election brought Nelson Mandela to the presidency and initiated the constitutional and political restructuring of South Africa.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
On April 27, 1994, millions of South Africans stood in lines, sometimes for hours, to participate in a national election. The vote represented the culmination of a long struggle for human rights under an abusive and racially unequal government. Black and white citizens participated together, making the election a decisive break with the political order of apartheid.
For Black South Africans, the election was the first occasion on which they had been allowed to vote. Official observers from nearly every country in the world were present to assess whether the process was fair and open, and the account states that they certified the elections. The scale of participation and international scrutiny gave the vote significance beyond the change of government itself.
Nelson Mandela was elected president after the election. His victory transformed the political meaning of the day: a former political prisoner became the leader of a democratic South Africa. The transition was celebrated as an example of how a bitter conflict could be settled with relatively little accompanying violence.
The election required a new constitutional framework. An interim constitution was used in 1994, followed by the adoption of a new constitution in 1996. That constitution declared human dignity, equality, and non-racialism central principles and included rights such as assembly, health care, housing, food, water, and basic education.
XXᵉ siècle
South Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The 1994 South African general election marked the country’s first democratic national vote after apartheid. On April 27, millions of Black and white South Africans waited in long lines to cast ballots, while international observers certified the election as fair and open. For Black South Africans, it was the first time they had been permitted to vote nationally. The election brought Nelson Mandela to the presidency and initiated the constitutional and political restructuring of South Africa.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
On April 27, 1994, millions of South Africans stood in lines, sometimes for hours, to participate in a national election. The vote represented the culmination of a long struggle for human rights under an abusive and racially unequal government. Black and white citizens participated together, making the election a decisive break with the political order of apartheid.
For Black South Africans, the election was the first occasion on which they had been allowed to vote. Official observers from nearly every country in the world were present to assess whether the process was fair and open, and the account states that they certified the elections. The scale of participation and international scrutiny gave the vote significance beyond the change of government itself.
Nelson Mandela was elected president after the election. His victory transformed the political meaning of the day: a former political prisoner became the leader of a democratic South Africa. The transition was celebrated as an example of how a bitter conflict could be settled with relatively little accompanying violence.
The election required a new constitutional framework. An interim constitution was used in 1994, followed by the adoption of a new constitution in 1996. That constitution declared human dignity, equality, and non-racialism central principles and included rights such as assembly, health care, housing, food, water, and basic education.
Continuer le voyage
D’autres chemins liés à cette histoire.