Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement / Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Inama Nkenguzamateka / Senate |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Inama Nshingamateka / National Assembly
|
LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
Electoral Law |
20 April 2005 Last modification: 26.03.2015 (Law No 1/10 of 26 March 2015) |
Mode of designation |
indirectly elected 36
other 3 |
Constituencies |
18 constituencies:
- each of the 18 provinces has 2 representatives;
- in each province, the 2 representatives must come from different ethnic communities and therefore are chosen separately through indirect election. |
Voting system |
Majority:
Three-round system (a variant of the two-round system, TRS)
- first two rounds require a super-majority (two-thirds of the votes) for a candidate to be elected;
- the third round is organized for the two leading candidates, and is won by a relative majority.
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;
- senators are elected by members of electoral colleges composed of members of the local councils of the province in question.
Overseas voters may vote at embassies and consulates.
Disqualifications for voting:
- any imprisonment (the disqualification is valid for one to three years thereafter);
- insanity/mental illness;
- guardianship/ward;
- holders of temporary entry permits;
- prohibited immigrants. |
CANDIDATES |
Eligibility |
- Burundian nationality, by birth or naturalization;
- age: 35 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. |
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 400,000 Burundian francs is required, reimbursable in full if the party obtains at least 2 per cent of valid votes in the whole country. |