IPU Logo    INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
>>> VERSION FRANÇAISE  
   HOME -> PARLINE -> BURUNDI (Inama Nshingamateka)
Print this pagePrint this page
PARLINE database new searchNew search
BURUNDI
Inama Nshingamateka (National Assembly)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Inama Nshingamateka / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Inama Nkenguzamateka / Senate
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1985 -1987
1994-1996
1999 -
LEADERSHIP
President Pascal Nyabenda (M) 
Notes Elected on 30 July 2015.
Secretary General Marc Rwabahungu (M) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 121 / 121
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


More statistics  >>>
Women (current number) 44 (36.36%)
Mode of designation directly elected 100
other 21
Notes Other: Additional members, including three Twas, can be co-opted to respect 60:40 Hutu-Tutsi split and 30 percent quota for women. Currently there are 21 co-opted members.
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 29 June 2015
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Assemblée nationale
Palais de Kigobe
B.P. 120
BUJUMBURA
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (257) 22 23 36 40
22 23 36 41
22 23 55 72
22 24 14 15 (Protocol)
Fax (257) 22 23 26 22
22 23 36 41
E-mail assemblenationale_burundi@yahoo.fr
Website
http://www.assemblee.bi/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Inama Nshingamateka / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Inama Nkenguzamateka / Senate
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 20 April 2005
Law N°1/015 of 20 April 2005, last modification: 18.09.2009
Mode of designation directly elected 100
other 21
Constituencies 17 multi-member constituencies.
Voting system Proportional: Proportional representation system (closed list).
Seats are distributed according to the d'Hondt method in proportion to the number of votes obtained by each list after removing the lists that received less than 2% of the votes nationwide.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - Burundian nationality, by birth or naturalization;
- age: 18 years old or over on election day;
- residence in the country on the qualifying date;
Overseas voters may vote at embassies and consulates.

Disqualifications for voting:
- any imprisonment (persons serving a prison sentence of 10 years or more or persons sentenced for an electoral offence are disqualified for life);
- insanity/mental illness;
- guardianship/ward.
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - Burundian nationality, by birth or naturalization;
- age: 25 years old or over on election day
- candidates must have full civil and political rights;
- candidates must be resident in Burundi when candidacies are put forward;
- candidates must be natives or citizens of the province in question;
- candidates must, in addition, subscribe to the Charter of National Unity and state that they shall uphold the basic principles contained therein.
Incompatibilities Incompatibilities related to occupations:
- remunerated members of the civil service
- persons holding posts for foreign States or for international organizations
- executives and officers of the Electoral Commission
- officers of the Electoral Commission
The incompatibilities above are valid during the term of office.

Other incompatibilities:
- insanity/mental illness
- guardianship/ward
- holders of temporary entry permits
- illegal immigrants
Candidacy requirements - Candidatures may be submitted by political parties without restriction.
- Nomination by at least 100 electors is required for independent candidates.
- For political parties and groups of independent candidates: a deposit of 500,000 Burundian francs is required, reimbursable in full if the party obtains at least 2 per cent of valid votes in the whole country.

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Inama Nshingamateka / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Inama Nkenguzamateka / Senate
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 29 June 2015
Timing and scope of renewal The ruling coalition, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), took 77 of the 100 directly elected seats during the elections; the poll was boycotted by the major opposition parties. Hope for Burundians (Abigenga-Amizero y'Abarundi) took 21 seats (see note 1), even though this opposition coalition, led by Mr. Agathon Rwasa, had officially boycotted the elections. In order to ensure respect for the 60-40 ethnic distribution of seats and the 30 per cent quota for women, a further 21 members (see note 2) were co-opted after the elections. That increased the number of members in the new National Assembly to 121, up from 106 in the outgoing legislature. The UN mission in the country (MENUB) stated that "the environment was not conducive for free, credible and inclusive elections."

The 2015 elections followed an attempted coup on 15 May. The coup was preceded by violent protests after President Pierre Nkurunziza (CNDD-FDD) announced that he would run for a third term in the 2015 presidential elections (see note 3). Following mounting pressure from the international community, the parliamentary elections were postponed from 26 May to 5 June and then to 29 June. Before polling day, several key parliamentarians left the CNDD-FDD. They included Second Vice President of the Republic and former Senate President Mr. Gervais Rufyikiri, and outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Pie Ntavyohanyuma. Both have fled into self-imposed exile in Belgium. According to the United Nations, 140,000 people have fled the country amid violence.

Note 1:
The names of several opposition parties were retained on the final ballot paper. The election commission stated it did not receive an official letter from those parties about the withdrawal of their candidates from the elections. Before announcing the election boycott, the major opposition parties criticized President Nkurunziza's new presidential bid and demanded the postponement of the presidential polls scheduled for 15 July.

Note 2:
Seventy-five men (56 Hutus and 19 Tutsis) and 25 women (14 Hutus and 11 Tutsis) were directly elected. In all, 18 women (3 Hutus and 15 Tutsis) and 3 Twa representatives (including one woman) were co-opted, bringing the total number of women to 44.

Note 3:
Article 96 of the 2005 Constitution stipulates that the President is directly elected for a five-year term, renewable once. President Nkurunziza was indirectly elected by parliament in 2005 and then directly elected in 2010. Supporters of the President argued that he was eligible to run again in 2015, since he was indirectly elected by parliament for his first term. On 5 May, the Constitutional Court ruled that "the renewal of the presidential term through direct universal suffrage for five years is not against the constitution of Burundi", paving the way for the President to seek a new term. The decision resulted in a wave of violent street protests. On 13 May, Major General Godefroid Niyombare staged a coup. Two days later, the government arrested him and two other leaders of the coup.
Date of previous elections: 23 July 2010

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: June 2020

Number of seats at stake: 100 (full renewal)

Number of parties contesting the election: 16*

Number of parties winning seats: 3*
*For the 100 directly elected seats.

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 27 July 2015

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Pascal Nyabenda (National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy, CNDD-FDD)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 129 June 2015
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
3'843'024
2'856'112 (74.32%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD)
Hope for Burundians coalition (Abigenga-Amizero y'Abarundi)
Union for National Progress (UPRONA)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) 77
Hope for Burundians coalition (Abigenga-Amizero y'Abarundi) 21
Union for National Progress (UPRONA) 2
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
77

44

36.36%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
Election Commission (23.07.2015)
http://www.ceniburundi.bi/

Note on the number of women:
25 women were directly elected. In all, 18 women (3 Hutus and 15 Tutsis) and 3 Twa representatives (including one woman) were co-opted, bringing the total number of women to 44.

This page was last updated on 5 August 2015
Copyright 1996-2013 Inter-Parliamentary Union