This article needs additional citations for verification .(March 2023) |
Republic of the Congoportal |
Politics of the Republic of the Congo takes place in a framework of a unitary semi-presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government, of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Recently, following the approval of a new Constitution after a referendum in 2015, Congo became a semi-presidential republic after the creation of the post of prime minister who is responsible to the legislature, as well is the cabinet of the former. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and the two chambers of parliament.
Many countries have a semi-presidential republic and elections, examples of other countries than the Republic of the Congo include France, Peru, and Croatia. [1] However, having semi-presidential republic does not necessarily mean that a country is a democracy. A central, but not the only, component of democracy is free and fair elections, where the population can hold accountable those in power. [2] Data collected from Freedom House, shows that the country scored 2/40 on political rights, and 15/60 on civil liberties; however, more specifically, the country scored 0/4 on whether there were free and fair elections. [3]
In terms of civil, political, and human rights, another tenant of democracy, another non-governmental organization, BTI, reports that the rule of law “only exists on paper” in the country; [4] this follows suit from a report from Amnesty International, which documents how Alexandre Ibacka Dzabana and Ras le Bol, both human rights leaders in the country were arrested the day after they announced they would hold a press conference to denounce election irregularities that occurred. [5]
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President | Denis Sassou-Nguesso | Party of Labour | 25 October 1997 |
Prime Minister | Anatole Collinet Makosso | Party of Labour | 12 May 2021 |
The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) elects its members to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The members of the Senate (Sénat) are elected for a six-year term by district, local and regional councils. The Republic of Congo is a one party dominant state with the Congolese Labour Party in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Denis Sassou Nguesso | Congolese Party of Labour | 838,922 | 60.19 | |
Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas | Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development | 209,632 | 15.04 | |
Jean-Marie Mokoko | Independent | 191,562 | 13.74 | |
Pascal Tsaty Mabiala | Pan-African Union for Social Democracy | 65,025 | 4.67 | |
André Okombi Salissa | Initiative for Democracy in Congo | 57,373 | 4.12 | |
Claudine Munari | Movement for Unity, Solidarity and Labour | 21,530 | 1.54 | |
Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou | Chain | 3,540 | 0.25 | |
Michel Mboussi Ngouari | Convention of Republican Parties | 3,301 | 0.24 | |
Anguios Nganguia Engabé | Party for Action of the Republic | 2,905 | 0.21 | |
Total | 1,393,790 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 1,393,790 | 93.55 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 96,171 | 6.45 | ||
Total votes | 1,489,961 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 2,161,839 | 68.92 | ||
Source: Constitutional Court |
Party | First round | Second round | Seats | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Extended mandate [lower-alpha 1] | Total | +/– | ||||
Congolese Party of Labour | 72 | 19 | 5 | 96 | +7 | |||||||
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 | +1 | |||||||
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | –3 | |||||||
Action and Renewal Movement | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | –2 | |||||||
Dynamic for the Republic and Recovery | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | New | |||||||
Union for a People's Movement | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2 | |||||||
Citizen Rally | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | –2 | |||||||
Republican and Liberal Party | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
Club 2002 – Party for the Unity and the Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
Union of Democratic Forces | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
Party for Agreement and Political Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +1 | |||||||
Patriotic Front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +1 | |||||||
Movement for Democracy and Progress | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | |||||||
Party for Unity, Liberty and Progress | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | |||||||
Congress for Democracy and the Republic | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | New | |||||||
CRDP | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | New | |||||||
La Chaîne | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | New | |||||||
National Movement for the Liberation of Congo | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | New | |||||||
Independents | 8 | 11 | 0 | 19 | +7 | |||||||
Total | 95 | 47 | 9 | 151 | +12 | |||||||
Registered voters/turnout | 2,221,596 | – | ||||||||||
Source: Jeune Afrique, IPU |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN (Security Council member for 2006/2007), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
The politics of Armenia take place in the framework of the parliamentary representative democratic republic of Armenia, whereby the president of Armenia is the head of state and the prime minister of Armenia the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the president and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and Parliament.
Politics of the Democratic Republic of Congo take place in the framework of a republic in transition from a civil war to a semi-presidential republic.
Politics of India works within the framework of the country's Constitution. India is a parliamentary secular democratic republic in which the president of India is the head of state & first citizen of India and the Prime Minister of India is the head of government. It is based on the federal structure of government, although the word is not used in the Constitution itself. India follows the dual polity system, i.e. federal in nature, that consists of the central authority at the centre and states at the periphery. The Constitution defines the organizational powers and limitations of both central and state governments; it is well recognised, fluid and considered supreme, i.e. the laws of the nation must conform to it. India is officially declared a secular and socialist state as per the Constitution.
The politics of Kazakhstan takes place in the framework of a semi-presidential republic, whereby the President of Kazakhstan is head of state and nominates the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament.
The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the Head of Government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet; like many presidential democracies, each member of the cabinet need to be approved by the Parliament. The President, along with their pick for vice president, is directly elected by the denizens to a five-year term by a secret ballot. Once in office, they could be re-elected to a second 5-year term, which is the limit allowed by the Constitution. The current President of the Maldives is Mohamed Muizzu, when his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih lost the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.
The politics of Moldova take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, wherein the prime minister is the head of the Government of Moldova, and a multi-party system. The President of Moldova has no important powers. The government exercises executive power while the legislative power is vested in the Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The position of the breakaway region of Transnistria, relations with Romania and with Russia, and integration into the EU dominate political discussions.
Nicaragua is a presidential republic, in which the President of Nicaragua is both head of state and head of government, and there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The politics of Tanzania takes place in a framework of a unitary presidential democratic republic, whereby the President of Tanzania is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The party system is dominated by the Chama Cha Mapinduzi. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The politics of Tunisia takes place within the framework of a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic, with a president serving as head of state, prime minister as head of government, a unicameral legislature and a court system influenced by French civil law. Between 1956 and 2011, Tunisia operated as a de facto one-party state, with politics dominated by the secular Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) under former presidents Habib Bourguiba and then Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. However, in 2011 a national uprising led to the ousting of Ben Ali and the dismantling of the RCD, paving the way for a multi-party democracy. October 2014 saw the first democratic parliamentary elections since the 2011 revolution, resulting in a win by the secularist Nidaa Tounes party with 85 seats in the 217-member assembly.
The politics of Azerbaijan take place in an authoritarian system where elections are not free and fair, political opponents are repressed, civil rights are limited, human rights abuses are widespread, corruption is rampant, and power is concentrated in the hands of President Ilham Aliyev and his extended family.
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician and former military officer who became president of the Republic of the Congo in 1997. He served a previous term as president from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as president, he headed the Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) for 12 years. He introduced multiparty politics in 1990, but was stripped of executive powers by the 1991 National Conference, remaining in office as a ceremonial head of state. He stood as a candidate in the 1992 presidential election but placed third.
On the federal level, Russia elects a president as head of state and a parliament, one of the two chambers of the Federal Assembly. The president is elected for, at most, two consecutive six-year terms by the people. The Federal Assembly has two chambers. The State Duma has 450 members, elected for five-year terms. The Federation Council is not directly elected; each of the 89 federal subjects of Russia sends 2 delegates to the Federal Council, for a total of 208 (178 + 30, members.
Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi is a Congolese politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Economy and the leader of the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) party. He served as the President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2006 to 2009. After resigning from that office, he went into the opposition and founded the UNC. He ran in the 2011 presidential election. He supported Félix Tshisekedi as a coalition partner in the 2018 presidential election, and became chief of staff when Tshisekedi took office.
The Rally for Democracy and Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. It has been one of the main participants in a coalition known as the African Socialist Movement-Congolese Progressive Party (MSA-PPC).
Presidential elections were held in the Republic of the Congo on 12 July 2009. Long-time President Denis Sassou Nguesso won another seven-year term with a large majority of the vote, but the elections were marred by accusations of irregularities and fraud from the opposition; six opposition candidates chose to boycott the elections.
The Union for the Congolese Nation is a political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded in 2010 by Vital Kamerhe, who was at the time a close ally of the former president Joseph Kabila. Kamerhe had previously served as the Chief of Staff to Kabila and as the Speaker of the National Assembly.
The First Republic of the Congo Civil War, also known as the First Brazzaville-Congolese Civil War, was a conflict in the Republic of the Congo which lasted from 2 November 1993 to 30 January 1994 and was between rival militias led by former politician Bernard Kolelas, former Prime Minister Pascal Lissouba, and former President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. It was one of four instances of militia fighting within the country, setting the stage for the next three conflicts in 1997, 1998–99, and 2002. The war was a direct result of unresolved claims of election fraud in the 1992 presidential election. The First Congo Civil War and the decade of conflict that followed resulted in the deaths of over 12,000 people and the displacement of 860,000 more.
A constitutional referendum was held in the Republic of the Congo on 25 October 2015 regarding a proposal to change the constitution, primarily to modify the rules regarding presidential terms.
The Constitution of the Republic of the Congo is the basic law governing the Republic of the Congo. In it, it is stated that the Republic of the Congo is a pluralistic, multi-party democracy. A presidential system since 2009, the president's term was originally 7 years, which has now been reduced to five after a 2015 constitutional referendum that instituted a new Constitution, which also reinstated the position of Prime Minister and moved the country to a semi-presidential system. The Council of Ministers – the government – is appointed by the President.
Paulin Makaya is a politician born in 1966 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. A former collaborator of Bernard Kolélas, he was the founding president of “United for the Congo”, an opposition party.