Chamber:
	Assemblée nationale
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	22 August 1993 19 September 1993
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the new multiparty Parliament. The term of the previous national Assembly, which had been elected on 31 July 1987, had expired on 31 August 1992.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Following the institution of a multiparty political system in July 1991 and in response to widespread calls for democracy, President of the Republic André Kolimgba convened a Grand National Debate in August 1992 to discuss the country’s political future. In September, it was announced that legislative and presidential elections would be held in October 1992. The first round of these elections took place on 25 October but the elections were annulled a few days later by the Supreme Court because of numerous irregularities. Subsequently, an agreement reached by the country’s main political leaders established a National Provisional Political Council of the Republic that would assume legislative powers until a new legislature was elected. A new joint electoral commission was set up to oversee the preparations for and organisation of fresh elections, which were scheduled for February 1993. The first round of the elections finally took place on 22 August 1993 after they had been postponed a number of times and as a result of pressure from opposition political parties and France. Some 400 candidates contested the legislative elections while eight candidates were in the presidential race. The election campaign as well as the two rounds of balloting took place in a relatively calm and peaceful atmosphere, despite a number of irregularities due to administrative shortcomings and reports of a few minor incidents of violence. Voter turnout was high (officially put at 67.93%). On 28 August, when it appeared that outgoing President Kolingba was losing the elections, he published two decrees amending the Electoral Code and changing the composition of the Supreme Court. These amendments would have delayed and tampered with the election results had they not been repealed by the President following strong pressure from France and opposition leaders. The international observers (some 95) considered the elections to have been generally free and fair. Out of the 35 seats which were allotted following the first round, the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) of Mr. Ange-Félix Patasse won 19. Outgoing President Kolingba’s party, the ruling and formerly sole Central African Democratic Rally (RDC), and a group of independents supporting former President David Dacko each won four seats. The other eight seats went to several smaller parties. The second round of voting, which was initially scheduled for 12 September, only took place on 19 September because of delays in the recording of first round votes. There was a drop in voter participation especially in Bangui, the capital. The final official results were published on 9 October, with the MLPC winning 34 seats, thus coming out on top but falling short of an absolute majority. As for the Presidential election, in the run-off following the first round of voting, Mr. Patasse emerged as overall winner with 53.49% of the vote as against 46.51% for Mr. Abel Goumba, who had been supported by an alliance of political movements called the Consultative Group of Democratic Forces (CDF). On 25 October, Mr. Jean-Luc Mandaba, a member of Mr. Patasse’s MLPC, was appointed Prime Minister and on 30 October, a 17-member coalition Government was announced comprising members of the MLPC, the Liberal Democratic Party (DLP), the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), the David Dacko movement and the RDC.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (22 August 1993): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,191,374
Voters	809,298 (67.93%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	15,317
Valid votes	793,971
Round no 2 (19 September 1993): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,235,568
Voters	692,597 (56.05%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	13,362
Valid votes	679,235

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC)	34
Central African Democratic Rally (RDC)	13
Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP)	7
Liberal Democratic Party (PLD)	7
Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP)	6
David Dacko movement (independents)	6
National Convention (CN)	3
Social Democratic Party (PSD)	3
Movement for Social Evolution in Black Africa (MESAN)	1
Civic Forum (FC)	1
Central African Republican Party	1
Movement for Democracy, the Renaissance and Evolution of Central Africa	1
Independents	2

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	82
Women:	3