KIGALI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's National Electoral Commission Thursday released a provisional list of candidates to contest in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections, indicating three candidates were approved to run in the presidential race.
Those approved include incumbent President Paul Kagame, representing the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Frank Habineza, founder of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate.
The announcement, conveyed by Oda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of the National Electoral Commission, was made from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.
The commission provisionally endorsed approximately 450 parliamentary candidates to contest for 80 seats in the lower house of parliament.
The final list of candidates will be announced on June 14, and the presidential and parliamentary elections will be conducted on July 15.
According to figures provided by the country's electoral body, an estimated 9.5 million Rwandans stand poised to exercise their franchise in these pivotal electoral proceedings. ■