CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE _____________________________________________________________________ freedom of association (there are 140 listed political parties governed by a charter and more than 100,000 associations) has generated a particularly dense network of associations, which is testimony to the vitality of democratic expression in terms of civil and political rights and liberties. 125. The existence of the CENI, the institution of a single ballot and the organisation of free and fair elections in compliance with the electoral calendar represent other positive factors contributing to the strengthening of democracy, peace and stability. 126. In addition, the introduction of an ambitious programme of modernisation of the civil service focusing on the search for efficiency and on the promotion of merit; the creation of the ASCE, aiming at taking charge of the effective suppression of corruption; the ongoing reform of the judiciary; and the ratification of conventions ensuring the promotion and protection of the rights of women, children and vulnerable people are good omens that indicate that there are promising prospects as regards initiatives to strengthen political governance and democracy. 127. However, many initiatives are still needed in order to enhance these gains. The country therefore needs to make a real and serious effort to achieve a consolidated democracy that is capable of bringing about real, sustainable development. It should be noted in this regard that the risks and threats to the system of governance are twofold: 128. • On the political front, the existence of an omnipresent and omnipotent majority leaves little room for an opposition reduced to its simplest form. This situation reinforces and also perpetuates all kinds of malfunctions. The risk of drifting towards the reconstruction of a de facto ‘one-party’ state threatens democratic construction and political stability – an opposition with a significantly reduced political space can pinpoint and feed on the smallest amount of discontent, spread it in the streets and contribute to instability. • In terms of the effectiveness of social and economic rights, there is a clear gap between the relatively well-off political and administrative class on the one hand, and the poor who constitute the majority of the population [which majority consists for the most part of the youth (over 60% of the total population) who claim to have little real prospects] on the other. This clearly apparent gap is a second source of threats. Burkina Faso must therefore face a number of challenges in establishing and consolidating political and democratic governance, in particular: • Consolidation of constitutional democracy and the rule of law: the democratic process still has many weaknesses and is faced with many constraints from both an institutional point of view (e.g. the high number and inefficiency of parties, the weak institutional capacity of CENI, the low level of involvement of women and of the youth in the development 69