1954 Rwandan parliamentary election

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Indirect parliamentary elections were held in Rwanda in 1954.

Contents

Electoral system

The Decree of 14 July 1952 by the Belgian authorities introduced an element of democracy to the Rwandan political system. A complicated electoral system was created, which involved seven stages of elections to eventually elect the national Superior Council (French : Conseil Superieur du Pays). [1]

CouncilElected membersEx officio membersOther members
Sub-Chiefdom Council5–10 members elected by 10–18 notablesSub-chiefs
Chiefdom Council10–18 members, 5–9 elected by sub-chiefs and 5–9 elected by notablesChiefs
Territorial CouncilSub-chiefs elected from amongst their own and notables elected by Chiefdom CouncilsChiefs
Superior Council6 chiefs elected from their own number, 9 notables elected by Territorial Councils King, presidents of the Territorial CouncilsUp to 8 co-opted

Results

The elections in the sub-chiefdoms and chiefdoms were held in 1953, with the elections to the Territorial Councils and the Superior Council following in 1954. [2]

CouncilMembersVotes cast
HutusTutsisTotalHutuTutsiTwaTotal
Elected
chiefs
Elected
notables
Co-optedElected
chiefs
Elected
notables
Ex officioCo-opted
Sub-chiefdom councils01,995001,56262804,1877,6745,4422913,485
Chiefdom councils1780299268460692796130692
Territorial councils01905683460204191850204
Superior Council0036910533329032
Source: Sternberger et al.

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References

  1. Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, p1699
  2. Sternberger et al, p1725