CONGO REPUBLIC: Arranged Victory

After short, chubby Abbe Fulbert Youlou maneuvered his way into power as the new Congo Republic’s first Premier last November, he felt in no position to test his strength in a popular vote. His archrival, Jacques Opangault, who barely missed getting the job himself, persistently demanded general elections, but Premier Youlou refused, using his meager majority of one vote in the Legislative Assembly to proclaim himself in control until 1962. The political squabble touched off bloody rioting that in February left more than 100 dead in Brazzaville’s native quarters.

Youlou, finally consenting to an election, then set out to win it. With a nice piece of gerrymandering, he increased the size of the Legislative Assembly from 45 to 61 seats, and saw to it that most of the new constituencies were located in the south, where Youlou supporters are concentrated. As further insurance, Opposition Leader Opangault was kept in jail, accused of provoking the February riots. Last week, to almost no one’s surprise, Youlou won massively, gained a majority of 41 in the new Assembly.