South Africa’s ANC Considers Snap Elections

South Africa’s ANC Considers Snap Elections

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party held a three-day meeting in Johannesburg this past weekend that left them considering either moving forward or delaying the country's elections, which were initially set for April 2009.

The ANC, which does not want the elections to fall in the "busy Easter period," seems more content with calling for snap elections -- possibly on March 25 -- than delaying the voting.

"President Kgalema Motlanthe should decide on the final election date, but the ANC -- as the party which deployed him to that post -- can pull the strings and dictate this to him. The NEC believes that an earlier date might be more convenient for the party," said one ANC insider Monday.

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