BURKINA FASO
Parliamentary Chamber: Assemblée nationale

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1997

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Chamber:
  Assemblée nationale


Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

  11 May 1997


Purpose of elections:

  Elections were held for all the members of the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.


Background and outcome of elections:

  The 1997 election date was announced on 14 February, following the approval of constitutional amendments which notably changed the name of the Assembly of People's Deputies to National Assembly, increased its membership from 107 to 111, and removed the limit on the presidential mandate. The previous general elections had taken place in May 1992, and the outgoing legislature was the first to complete its full term (5 years) since the country achieved independence in 1960.

The three-week campaign opened on 20 April. Altogether 13 parties and 569 candidates were in contention, with the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) being the only group to contest seats in all 45 provinces. The CDP - an alliance founded in 1996 through merger of several ex-opposition parties with that (ODP-MT) of President of the Republic Blaise Compaoré - was mainly challenged by the Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP) led by Mr. Joseph Ki-Zerbo.

Polling day, monitored by national and international observers, was marked by a low voter turnout of approximately 44%. Official results, as announced on 16 May, gave the CDP a total of 101 seats; the opposition was led by the PDP, which won 6 seats.

On 7 June, the newly elected Assembly held its inaugural session. Four days later, the composition of the new Cabinet - again headed by Prime Minister Désiré Kadre Ouedraogo - was announced.

STATISTICS
Round no 1 (11 May 1997): Elections results  
Number of registered electors 4,985,352
Voters 2,220,161 (44.53%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers 108,183
Valid votes 2,111,978

Round no 1: Distribution of votes  
Political Group Votes %
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) 1,449,082 68.61
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP) 213,620 10.11
Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF) 156,325 7.40
African Democratic Rally (RDA) 136,006 6.44
Others 156,945 7.43

Round no 1: Distribution of seats  
Political Group Total
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) 101
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP) 6
Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF) 2
African Democratic Rally (RDA) 2
Others 0

Distribution of seats according to sex:  
Men: 102
Women: 9
Percent of women: 8.11

Distribution of seats according to age:  
31-40 years 19
41-50 years 47
51-60 years 42
61-70 years 3


Distribution of seats according to profession:

 
Economists 12
School inspectors, teachers (primary) 10
Engineers 10
Professors 10
Executives 9
Doctors 7
Lawyers 6
Businessmen 3
Others 44


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Copyright © 1997 Inter-Parliamentary Union