| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Sénat / Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 24 June 2007
5 August 2007 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all seats in the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
On 14 February 2007
President Denis Sassou Nguesso called elections to the 137-seat National Assembly for 24 June (first round) and 22 July (second round).
In the previous elections held in May and June 2002
President Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Workers Party (PCT) and its allies from the United Democratic Forces (UDF) had won 83 of the 129 confirmed seats. Two opposition parties
the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) of former President Mr. Pascal Lissouba
and the Union for Democracy and the Republic (UDR-Mwinda) led by former Speaker of the National Assembly
Mr. André Milongo
took 12 seats in all
while the other seats went to independents and small parties.
Elections for the remaining eight seats in the Pool region were not held until the end of the outgoing legislature due to long-lasting conflicts between the army and a rebel group led by Mr. Frédéric Bitsangou. In April 2003
the government and the rebel group signed an agreement and the latter transformed itself into a political party
the National Council of Republicans (CNR).
Prior to the 2007 elections
Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba (PCT) agreed to calls from opposition parties to amend the electoral law and create an independent electoral commission. In late April 2007
opposition parties boycotted the parliamentary session on the independent electoral commission
which was to be appointed by the President. A group of 40 opposition parties (including many not represented in the outgoing legislature) subsequently called for a boycott of the elections. The UPADS
the UDR-Mwinda
and the CNR were the only main opposition forces to contest the elections.
Over 1
000 candidates contested the 2007 elections
including many more independent candidates than in previous elections.
In the face of widespread poverty and unemployment
candidates from all sides pledged to provide more jobs and better housing.
The ruling PCT formed an electoral alliance with the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI) of Mr. Bernard Kolélas. A former opponent of President Sassou Nguesso
Mr. Kolélas supported the President after his return from exile in late 2005. Ten other small parties also supported the President.
Some two million citizens were registered for the polls. Although no official figure was announced
turnout was reportedly low.
Due to irregularities related to voter registration
elections were repeated in 19 constituencies on 8 and 15 July.
In all
53 candidates were elected in the first round. The PCT and its allies won 50 of the 53 seats in parliament. The opposition UPADS took three seats
and criticized the organization of the elections
claiming that the poll was fraud-ridden.
In order to issue new electoral cards and to allow more time for the election campaign
the second round of elections
which had been originally scheduled for 22 July
was postponed to 5 August. It was contested by the two leading candidates in each of the remaining 84 constituencies.
African Union (AU) observers noted a low turnout as well as a series of irregularities involving multiple names on the electoral list
and delays in transporting voting equipment to some polling stations.
The final results gave a clear majority for the presidential camp
which won a total of 80 seats (including 44 seats for the PCT
and 12 for the MCDDI). In addition
most of the 34 independent candidates were reportedly close allies of the President. The UPADS took 11 seats. The UDR-Mwinda and the CNR failed to win a seat.
The newly-elected National Assembly held its first session on 21 August. On 4 September
it elected Mr. Justin Koumba (PCT) as its new Speaker. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 24 June 2007 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Round no 2 | 5 August 2007 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Total 1st & 2nd |
Number of women |
|
|
| Congolese Workers Party (PCT) |
22
|
|
1 |
|
|
| Independents |
8
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI) |
4
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Constituent Congress of the Action & Renewal Movement (MAR) |
3
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) |
3
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Take Action for Congo |
1
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Movement for Solidarity and Development (MSD) |
1
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Club 2002 |
1
|
|
0 |
|
|
| New Democratic Forces (FDN) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Union for the Republic (UR) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress (UPDP) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Union for Progress (UP) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Others |
0
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Total 1st & 2nd |
Number of women |
|
|
| Independents |
28
|
36 |
5 |
|
|
| Congolese Workers Party (PCT) |
22
|
44 |
2 |
|
|
| Others |
10
|
10 |
0 |
|
|
| Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) |
8
|
11 |
0 |
|
|
| Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI) |
7
|
11 |
0 |
|
|
| Movement for Solidarity and Development (MSD) |
4
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
| Club 2002 |
2
|
3 |
1 |
|
|
| New Democratic Forces (FDN) |
2
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
| Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Constituent Congress of the Action & Renewal Movement (MAR) |
2
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
| Union for the Republic (UR) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress (UPDP) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Union for Progress (UP) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Union of Democratic Forces (UFD) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Take Action for Congo |
1
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
127
10
7.30%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
Over 70 years
Unknown
|
6
38
63
13
2
15
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
| Unknown |
33 |
| Educators |
30 |
| Business/trade/industry employees
including executives |
23 |
| Engineers/PC experts |
14 |
| Others |
14 |
| Legal professions |
6 |
| Medical professions (doctors
dentists
nurses) |
6 |
| Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants |
5 |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) |
4 |
| Military/police officers |
1 |
| Architects |
1 |
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- National Assembly (13.08.2007
14.08.2007
25.02.2008)
- http://www.congo-site.com/
Note on the distribution of seats
The second round did not take place in certain villages in the two constituencies of Bouaniela and Liranga
owing to their inaccessibility. They were held on 19 and 20 August respectively and both seats were won by independent candidates. The statistics above include these election results.
Note on the number of women elected:
In all
ten women were elected: one in the first round and nine in the second round. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
