National Assembly of Burkina Faso

Last updated
National Assembly

Assemblée nationale
7th National Assembly
Coat of arms of Burkina Faso.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Vacant
since 24 January 2022
Seats127
Elections
Proportional representation
Last election
22 November 2020
Meeting place
Assemblee Nationale Burkina Faso.jpg
Parliament Building, Ouagadougou
Website
www.assembleenationale.bf OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Constitution
Constitution of Burkina Faso

The unicameral National Assembly is the legislative body of Burkina Faso. In 1995, it became the lower house of a bicameral parliament, but the upper house (Chamber of Representatives) was abolished in 2002. The upper house was to have been restored under the name "Senate" in the June 2012 constitutional amendments. [1] This revision was never executed due to an extended and unresolved political confrontation over the Senate's establishment, which left the country effectively with a unicameral legislature as of the October 2014 constitutional crisis. [2]

Contents

On 30 October 2014, as part of the 2014 Burkinabé uprising, protesters stormed the parliament building and set fire to it, in anger at the parliament's decision to amend the Constitution of Burkina Faso to abolish term limits, which would have effectively paved the way for President Blaise Compaoré to remain in office for another five-year term. [3]

On 24 January 2022, during the January 2022 Burkinabé coup d'état, President Kaboré was detained and deposed by the military. [4] After the announcement, the military declared that the parliament and government had been dissolved. [5] In its place a transitional legislative assembly was sworn in on 22 March 2022. [6] It was also dissolved on 30 September after a coup d'état against interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. [7] A new transitional legislative assembly was sworn in on 11 November. [8]

Electing the National Assembly

Burkina Faso is divided into 45 electoral provinces within their 13 regions. Each province elects between two and nine representatives, and these representatives are members of political parties. There are 111 members of the National Assembly elected to represent provinces, and 16 nationally elected, totaling 127. [9]

In Burkina Faso, the National Assembly is elected by a proportional representation system. [9] Proportional representation in Burkina Faso means that each voter marks one party on the ballot, and after tallying the votes, the top parties chosen are elected to the Assembly. Each electoral province has a simple electoral quotient. This is the number of valid votes counted divided by the number of seats available. If a party wins a seat by the electoral quotient, usually half of the votes, then the remainder of the seats are transferred to a "rest" category, which are compared to the other votes gathered. For example, in the province of Boulkiemde, the MPP (People's Movement for Progress) received 29,445 votes, which is 35.1% of the total votes of the province. [10] Boulkiemde elects four representatives to their legislature, so their electoral quotient is 21002 votes (84007÷4). This means that the MPP will receive one seat from the electoral quotient. The remaining votes are transferred to another category, which is compared among the other candidates. These remaining votes in Boulkiemde won the MPP another seat in the legislature, since the remaining votes (8443) are the second highest compared to the rest of the parties (CDP=16968, UPC=8099). Thus, since the MPP received 35.1% of the votes, they received 50% of the seats due to the electoral quotient.

Elections are led by teachers in Burkina Faso, who are not allowed to be a member of any political party.  The ballot has a name, acronym, or symbol of the party and a space for voters to mark. [11] The ballots are placed in envelopes, and then placed in ballot boxes. The leader of the election officials ensures that the seal is not broken before counting all of the votes. The teachers who are trained as election officials become counting officials. [11] Invalid ballots include those that have no marks, more than one mark, or ballots not in an envelope.  The ballots are sent to the district level after counting them, where the winner of a legislative seat will be determined based on the number of votes. The districts are divided by one seat per 100,000 people, so the capital, Ouagadougou, has nine seats.

2015 National Assembly elections

In the 2015 parliamentary election, the People's Movement for Progress party received 51.3% of the national vote, winning 55 seats. The Union for Progress and Change (UPC) received 20.5% of the vote, which won them 33 seats. The Congress for Democracy and Progress party won 18 seats with 13.2% of the vote, and the New Alliance of Faso party received two seats, with 4.1% of the vote.

Results by electoral province: 111 seats

Electoral provinceTotal votesSeatsPartyVotesProportion of votePartyVotesProportion of votePartyVotesProportion of votePartyVotesProportion of vote
Bale 410732MPP193710.471624UPC98120.238892
BAM 632472MPP259340.410043CDP111450.176214
Banwa 420142MPP199410.474628Unir/PS62680.149188
Bazega 503462MPP178700.354944UPC113010.224467
Bougouriba 184502MPP56940.308618UPC54450.295122
Boulgou 1272104MPP226950.178406UPC (2)675520.531027CDP86960.068359
Boulkiemde 840074MPP294450.350507CDP169680.201983UPC80990.096409
Comoe 694882MPP252700.36366UPC112420.161783
Fada Gourma 580412MPP183570.316276UPC155540.267983
Ganzourgou 697102MPP (2)529130.7590450
Gnagna 916553MPP291780.318346UPC274980.300016NTD103770.113218
Houet 2250856MPP (2)698020.310114CDP263600.117111UPC455340.202297UNIR93760.041655
Ioba 422332MPP127510.30192UPC146230.346246
Kadiogo 6177829MPP (3)2131790.345072UPC (2)1504920.2436UNIR/PS388960.062961CDP561430.090878
Kenedougou 532612MPP190930.35848UPC176110.330655
Komondjari 201592MPP94620.469369UPC68620.340394
Kossi 484192MPP151540.312976UPC98880.204217
Kompienga 184012CDP52050.282865UPC64090.348296
Koulpelogo 530702MPP181700.342378UPC134450.253345
Kouritenga 777842MPP325520.418492UPC180140.23159
Kourweogo 254412MPP73600.289297CDP49330.1939
Leraba 279662MPP93550.334513UPC78180.279554
Lorum 342872MPP98780.288098MDA111700.325779
Mouhoun 514442MPP199090.387003UPC110990.215749
Nahouri 440282MPP138320.314164UPC129410.293927
Namentenga 565332MPP230280.407337CDP99690.176339
Nayala 346432MPP151710.437924CDP72590.209537
Noumbiel 148422MPP49240.331761UPC41930.282509
Oubritenga 491172MPP119860.24403CDP261890.533196
Oudalan 523032MPP161940.309619UBN157450.301034
Passore 657083MPP182520.277774CDP106480.16205UNIR/PS172370.262327
Poni 384612MPP101540.264008UPC112940.293648
Sanguie 561812MPP146210.260248NAFA176050.313362
Sanmatenga 1126244MPP314420.279177UPC87550.077737RDS157940.140237CDP210130.186577
Seno 730072MPP176700.242032PDS281650.385785
Sissili 395562MPP151180.382192UPC86000.217413
Soum 792472MPP185830.234495CDP207520.261865
Sourou 385692MPP108750.281962CDP91170.236382
Tapoa 618262MPP281710.45565UPC191210.309271
Tuy 369482MPP173220.468821UPC70180.189943
Yagha 397352MPP122360.30794NTD87510.220234
Yatenga 1387734MPP(2)688830.496372ADF-RDA226920.163519CDP128070.092287
Ziro 286382MPP102710.358649LFA70280.245408
Zondoma 369022MPP216550.586825CDP64890.175844
Zoundweogo 542072CDP130970.241611UPC267440.493368


A pie chart showing how many seats won in the 2015 Burkina Faso National Assembly Elections. The "other" category includes 6 separate political parties. Burkina Faso Pie Chart edited.jpg
A pie chart showing how many seats won in the 2015 Burkina Faso National Assembly Elections. The "other" category includes 6 separate political parties.

National results: 16 seats

Political partyNumber of votesNumber of seatsProportion of vote
ADF-RDA9661410.030577
CDP41705820.131995
MPP109681460.347131
NAFA13096310.041449
NTD7037410.022273
PAREN5942110.018806
UNIR/PC11866210.037555
UPC64878430.205334
The frequency for the number of seats reserved for provinces. The majority of electoral provinces have two seats reserved, while few have more than two. Representatives Graph.jpg
The frequency for the number of seats reserved for provinces. The majority of electoral provinces have two seats reserved, while few have more than two.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burkina Faso</span> Country in West Africa

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of 274,200 km2 (105,900 sq mi), bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. As of 2021, the country had an estimated population of 20,321,378. Previously called Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabè, and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou. Its name is often translated into English as the "Land of Honest Men".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Burkina Faso</span> Political system of Burkina Faso

The Politics of Burkina Faso takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The President of Burkina Faso is the head of state. Executive power is exercised by both the President and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The party system was dominated by the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) until 2014. Burkina Faso's CDP fell victim to a series of demonstrations and riots, to alter the constitution and extend the former president's term in office - referred to as the 2014 Burkinabé uprising. The military then declared itself to be in power and the state shifted to an electoral autocracy. Burkina Faso lacks the foundation that would support a democracy, with its current transition to a military regime, but not all hope is lost. After an internal coup ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the previous military head of state, a new transitional charter was adopted, naming Captain Ibrahim Traoré as president. Mr. Damiba's progressional failures on the state's security front “swung a majority of domestic opinion in favour of the MPSR”. Mr. Traoré pledged a major reinforcement of armed forces to strengthen frontline units and recruited over 3,000 more troops. As the violence becomes so entrenched, it is nonetheless expected that the security situation will remain dire in the medium term. “However, we expect that elections will still be held in 2024 as part of the army's plan to stabilise the security situation by boosting counter-terrorism operations.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Burkina Faso</span> Aspect of history

The history of Burkina Faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as the Mossi kingdoms, as well as the later French colonisation of the territory and its independence as the Republic of Upper Volta in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaise Compaoré</span> President of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014

Blaise Compaoré is a Burkinabé-Ivorian former politician who served as the second president of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014. He was a close associate of the first president, Thomas Sankara, during the 1980s, and in October 1987, he led a coup d'état during which Sankara was killed. Subsequently, he introduced a policy of 'rectification', overturning the leftist and Third Worldist policies pursued by Sankara. He won elections in 1991, 1998, 2005 and 2010, in what were considered unfair circumstances. His attempt to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year term caused the 2014 Burkinabé uprising. On 31 October 2014, Compaoré resigned, whereupon he fled to the Ivory Coast. In April 2022, he was found guilty by a special military tribunal of complicity in Sankara’s murder. He is also the longest serving president of Burkina Faso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congress for Democracy and Progress</span> Political party in Burkina Faso

The Congress for Democracy and Progress was the ruling party in Burkina Faso from 1996 until the overthrow of Blaise Compaoré in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Burkina Faso</span> Political elections for public offices in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly has 127 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. Burkina Faso has held democratic elections since 1965. The history of elections has been slightly inconsistent, with the government dynamically changing at the hands of various coups, constitutional changes, and boycotts from various political parties. In 2015, the country experienced its first peaceful and fair election ever. Corruption plagued Burkina Faso's presidential elections for 50 years, but following a coup overthrowing Blaise Compaoré, the nation has seen more democratic and less corrupt electoral processes. Terrorism has played a substantial role in Burkina Faso's elections, with candidates running on the promise to keep the nation safe from the rise of Islamic jihadism they experienced in the 2010s. Historically, a few different parties have held power in Burkina. The Organization for Popular Democracy – Labour Movement was former president Compaoré's party affiliation, and thus they held power from 1987 to 2014. His party took power through a coup, and in 2014 also lost their control when the Regiment of Presidential Security overthrew the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roch Marc Christian Kaboré</span> President of Burkina Faso from 2015 to 2022

Roch Marc Christian Kaboré is a Burkinabé banker and politician who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 2015 until he was deposed in 2022. He was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso between 1994 and 1996 and President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso from 2002 to 2012. Kaboré was also president of the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) until his departure from the party in 2014. He founded the People's Movement for Progress party that same year.

March 2000 passed without presidential action. New legislative elections were ultimately rescheduled for October 2001. Because of funding problems and disagreements between the government and opposition, the elections were again delayed, this time until March 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Compaoré</span> Burkinabé politician

Simon Compaoré is a Burkinabé politician who served as Mayor of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, from 1995 to 2012. He was a prominent member of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), but he left the CDP and participated in the formation of the opposition People's Movement for Progress (MPP) in 2014. Following the MPP's victory in the 2015 election, he was appointed to the government. He has served as Minister of State for Internal Security since January 2016, and he also held the ministerial portfolio for territorial administration from January 2016 to February 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salif Diallo</span> Burkinabé politician

Salif Diallo was a Burkinabé politician who was President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso from 2015 to 2017. He was a key associate of President Blaise Compaoré from the 1980s to the 2000s, serving in various posts during that period, including as Director of the Cabinet of the President from 1987 to 1989, Minister of Environment and Water from 1995 to 1999, and Minister of Agriculture from 2000 to 2008. He was appointed as Burkina Faso's Ambassador to Austria later in 2008. He also served as Vice-President of the Congress for Democracy and Progress, the ruling party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Burkinabé parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Burkina Faso on 2 December 2012. They were the first elections held since the National Assembly dissolved the National Electoral Commission in 2011, following fraud allegations concerning the 2010 presidential elections. Municipal elections for over 18,000 councillors were held simultaneously. The elections were held amidst a period of political uncertainty, following protests against President Blaise Compaore's regime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Burkinabè general election</span>

General elections were held in Burkina Faso on 29 November 2015. The elections were the first national elections in the country since the 2014 Burkinabé uprising and the departure of President Blaise Compaoré, who had ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years. The party of former President Compaoré, the Congress for Democracy and Progress, was banned from presenting a presidential candidate in the presidential elections but was still able to participate in the parliamentary election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Burkina Faso uprising</span> Uprising that overthrew President Blaise Compaoré

The 2014 Burkina Faso uprising was a series of demonstrations and riots in Burkina Faso in October 2014 that quickly spread to multiple cities. They began in response to attempts at changing the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaoré to run again and extend his 27 years in office. Pressure for political change came from civil society and in particular from the country's youth. Following a tumultuous day on 30 October, which included the involvement of former Defence Minister Kouamé Lougué and the burning of the National Assembly and other government buildings as well as the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress party's headquarters, Compaoré dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency before eventually fleeing to Côte d'Ivoire with the support of President Alassane Ouattara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senate of Burkina Faso</span>

The Senate is Burkina Faso's uncreated legislative upper chamber under the amended Constitution of Burkina Faso. The original upper house was abolished in 2002, making the legislature unicameral. The upper house was to have been restored under the name "Senate" in the June 2012 constitutional amendments. This revision was never executed due to an extended and unresolved political confrontation over the Senate's establishment, which left the country effectively with a unicameral legislature as of the October 2014 constitutional crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacouba Isaac Zida</span> Burkinabé military officer

Yacouba Isaac Zida is a Burkinabé military officer who briefly served as Burkina Faso's acting head of state in November 2014. He took power in the aftermath of the 2014 Burkinabé uprising, sidelining a more senior officer, Honoré Nabéré Traoré. A few weeks later, a civilian, Michel Kafando, was chosen to replace Zida as transitional head of state; Kafando then appointed Zida as Prime Minister on 19 November 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Party of Burkina</span> Political party

The Independent Party of Burkina was a political party in Burkina Faso. In 2014 Maxime Kaboré was the chairman of the party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organisation for Democracy and Labour</span> Political party in Burkina Faso

The Organisation for Democracy and Labour is a political party in Burkina Faso. The party supported the government of Blaise Compaoré. As of 2013 Moïse Sawadogo was the chairman of the party. The slogan of the party is 'Democracy - Work - Justice'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Movement for Progress</span> Political party in Burkina Faso

The People's Movement for Progress is a political party in Burkina Faso that was founded on 25 January 2014 by former Congress for Democracy and Progress member Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Kaboré ran as the party's presidential candidate in the 2015 general election and was elected in the first round of voting; the MPP also won a plurality of seats in the National Assembly of Burkina Faso. It is a full member of the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International. On January 24, 2022, Kaboré was deposed as Burkina Faso President and arrested following a military coup.

New Era for Democracy is a political party in Burkina Faso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Burkinabè general election</span>

General elections were held in Burkina Faso on 22 November 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. In the presidential elections, incumbent president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of the People's Movement for Progress was re-elected in the first round with 57.7% of the vote, avoiding the need for second round. The main campaign focus of the major presidential candidates was the growing insecurity in the country with the rise in terrorism and ethnic violence.

References

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  8. "Burkina Faso's new transitional legislature takes office". Africanews. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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