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Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament / Parlement More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1971-1973 1982-1994 1995 - LEADERSHIP President Donatille Mukabalisa (F)  Notes Elected on 5 Oct. 2013. Secretary General Kambanda Jeannine (F)  Notes Appointed on 13 Sep. 2016. COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 80 / 80 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 49 (61.25%) Mode of designation directly elected 53 indirectly elected 27 Notes Indirectly elected members: These include: - 24 women by electoral colleges from each Province and the City of Kigali; - Two members elected by the National Youth Council; - One member elected by the Federation of the Associations of the Disabled. Term 5 years Last renewal dates 16 September 2013 18 September 2013 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Chambre des Députés B.P. 352 KIGALI (Export mailing lists) Phone (250) 252 582 894 252 583 970 252 586 275 Fax (250) 252 594 793 (Clerk's Office) E-mail info@parliament.gov.rw Website http://www.parliament.gov.rw/ http://www.rwandaparliament.gov.rw/ http://www.inteko.gov.rw/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament / Parlement Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 7 July 2003 Last updated: 25.07.2008 Mode of designation directly elected 53 indirectly elected 27 Constituencies One nationwide constituency for 53 directly elected members. Number of women's seats following the 2006 territorial administrative reforms which abolished previous constituencies: - Eastern, Southern, Western provinces: 6 each - Northern Province: 4 - Kigali City: 2 Voting system Proportional: The proportional representation system using closed party lists (for the 53 directly elected members): Seats are allocated according to the system of the largest remainder to parties and independent candidates who obtain at least 5 per cent of the total votes cast. In cases where there is only one seat to fill and the lists obtain the same number of votes using the largest remainder formula, the seat is awarded to the list that receives the largest number of actual votes. Vacancies for members elected under the proportional representation system are filled by the "next-in-line" candidate of the same party in cases where the remainder of their term exceeds one year. By-elections are held if seats occupied by independent candidates become vacant. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - Age: 18 years old on election day - Rwandan nationality - Registration on the voters' list Rwandans abroad, who are not refugees, are entitled to register to be placed on the voters' list at their country's embassies. Disqualifications: - Persons who have been stripped of the right to vote by competent courts of law and have not been absolved or granted amnesty in accordance with the law; - Persons who have been convicted of the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity, as provided for under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 51 of organic law no. 16/2004 of 19/6/2004 establishing the organization, competence and functioning of Gacaca courts entrusted with prosecuting and trying the perpetrators of the crime of genocide and other crimes against humanity committed between 1 October 1990 and 31 December 1994, as amended and supplemented to date; - Persons who have confessed to the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity; - Refugees; - Detainees. CANDIDATES Eligibility - Qualified voters - Age: 21 years old on election day - Rwandan nationality - Persons of integrity (i.e. persons who have not been proven guilty of the crime of genocide or divisionism or genocide ideology; persons who have not been convicted and sentenced to a prison term of more than or equal to six months and without being rehabilitated; and persons who have not been dismissed from the civil service) Ineligibilities: - Persons who are legal wards; - Persons found to be responsible by judicial decision for the bankruptcy of companies and establishments which they used to manage as long as they have not been rehabilitated; - Persons with a mental handicap as certified by a State-accredited physician; Judges; - Members of the Rwanda Defence Forces, the National Police or the National Security Service. Incompatibilities - Head of State - Ministers of State - Members of the Senate - Members of the District or City of Kigali Councils - Member of the Sector Council - Member of the "Cellule" (the smallest administrative unit) or Village Council - Employee of the District or the City of Kigali - Judges - Prosecutors - Civil servants or employees of a public institution - Persons employed under a job contract - Members of the National Electoral Commission - Members of the Rwanda Defence Forces, the National Police or the National Security Service With the exception of judges and members of the Rwanda Defence Forces, the National Police or the National Security Service, the exercise of functions incompatible with the office of a member of parliament (deputy) does not deprive the above-mentioned persons of the right to be elected. However, immediately upon their election, they are required to resign from these positions. Candidacy requirements - Submission of candidatures by a political party or by independent candidates at least 35 days prior to election day. - Each party list may contain up to 80 candidates. - Independent candidates must submit a list of signatures of at least six hundred (600) registered Rwandan voters, including at least twelve (12) domiciled in each district.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament / Parlement Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) 16 September 2013 18 September 2013 Timing and scope of renewal President Paul Kagame's Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) took 41 of the 53 directly elected seats in the 80-member Chamber of Deputies. Two independent parties close to the FPR - the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party - took the remainder. The other 27 seats are reserved for special interest groups namely, women (24 seats), the youth (2) and people living with disabilities (1). A record 51 women were elected, holding 23 general seats, 24 reserved seats and one representative for youth. Rwanda thus renewed its own record for the highest number of women parliamentarians, rising to 64 per cent from 56.25 per cent in 2008. Turnout was also high at 98.8 per cent of 5.9 million registered voters, up from 95.5 per cent in 2008. The FPR ran on the government's record, citing better infrastructure and increased energy supply. It promised to boost women's welfare, maintain security and consolidate the country's progress. Among the other parties in parliament, the Social Democratic Party focused on development and social welfare. The Liberal Party promised to work for reforms in the justice sector to reduce the backlog of cases. Date of previous elections: 15-18 September 2013 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: September 2018 Number of seats at stake: 80 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 410* *Including 103 women candidates for the 24 women seats, 23 candidates for the two youth seats, and 15 candidates for the one seat reserved for the disabled. Percentage of women candidates: Not available. Number of parties contesting the election: 8 Number of parties winning seats: 3 Alternation of power: No Number of parties in government: 3 Names of parties in government: Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR); Ideal Democratic Party (PDI) and Party for Progress and Concord (PPC) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 October 2013 Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Donatille Mukabalisa (Rwandan Patriotic Front, FPR) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 (from/to) 16 September 2013 18 September 2013 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 5'953'531 5'881'874 (98.8%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liberal Party Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) 41 Social Democratic Party (PSD) 7 Liberal Party 5 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 29 51 63.75% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: Chamber of Deputies (02.10.2013, 01.01.2017) http://www.nec.gov.rw

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament / Parlement Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Members - the election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs - after the Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly can be elected Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - the absolute majority is required Procedures / results - the President of Republic presides over the Assembly during the voting STATUS Status - represents the Assembly with the public authorities - represents the Assembly in international bodies - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions - presides over the Conference of Presidents Board - consists of the Speaker, one Deputy Speaker and one Secretary - is responsible for establishing the budget Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only - establishes and modifies the agenda, in the framework of the Standing Orders - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - refers texts to a committee for study Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings, in the framework of the Standing Orders - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Assembly Special powers Budgetary and administrative powers : - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - organizes the services of Parliament Other powers : - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - can take the floor in legislative debates, but must leave the Chair for the purpose

This page was last updated on 18 September 2018
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