| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Antenimieram-Pirenena - Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)
|
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Sénat / Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 23 September 2007
14 November 2007 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all seats in the National Assembly following the premature dissolution of this body on 26 July 2007. General elections had previously taken place on 15 December 2002. |
The 2007 parliamentary elections were the first to be held following the approval of constitutional amendments by referendum in April
which empowered the President to pass laws during a state of emergency without parliament's approval. The statutory number of members of the National Assembly was reduced from 160 to 127. The country's six autonomous provinces are due to be replaced by 22 non-autonomous regions by October 2009.
In the previous elections held in December 2002
President Marc Ravalomanana's Tiako I Madagasikara (TIM
meaning "I Love Madagascar") party won 102 of the 160 seats and its ally
Firaisankinam-Pirenena (FP - National Union)
took 23. President Ravalomanana was re-elected in December 2006
pledging to reduce poverty by 50 per cent by 2012. His "Madagascar Action Plan (MAP)" also seeks to increase economic growth by 8 to 10 per cent annually. Nearly 70 per cent of the country's 17 million inhabitants are reported to live in poverty.
Prior to the 2007 elections
the TIM was hit by a series of internal rows between supporters and opponents of President Ravalomanana. A "reformist" wing (known as the "TIM Re-energization Committee")
led by former minister of education
Mr. Théodore Ranjivason
called for electoral reforms
including the creation of an independent electoral commission. Reformist members were reportedly preparing President Ravalomananas impeachment. The President subsequently called early elections to the National Assembly for 23 September
five months earlier than the official date of expiry of the members term. He argued that the parliament no longer reflected the real composition of the nation following the constitutional amendments.
In all
637 candidates vied for the 127 seats at stake. 80 per cent of outgoing TIM members were not re-nominated by the party. TIM candidates held rallies throughout the country
dominating the election campaign. The party was widely expected to win a landslide victory.
Mr. Ranjivason formed the Solidarity of Malagasy Citizens (SCM)
which fielded 50 candidates. The SCM ran for elections on a platform called the "Tambatra-Monima-Manaovasoa (TMM) trio". It included the AVI (Asa Vita no Ifampitsarana
meaning
You are judged by your actions
)
also a former ally of the TIM. The AVI's leader
Norbert Lala Ratsirahonan
had run against Mr. Ravalomanana in the 2006 presidential elections. The party had also opposed the 2007 constitutional amendments. It pledged to work towards electoral reforms
including the revision of the voters' list
which it deemed to be rigged.
The opposition Arema party
which had taken three seats in the 2002 elections
accused the government of obstructing the emergence of an opposition alliance. The party fielded candidates despite a call for an election boycott from the exiled party founder and former president
Mr. Didier Ratsiraka. The Arema party secretary
Mr. Pierre Houlder
argued the boycott would simply allow the TIM to continue to dominate the new National Assembly. However
Arema struggled to bring its programme
which shared similarities with the President's MAP
to the public's attention. Former Arema member
Mr. Jonah Parfait Prezaly
ran under the banner of the Economic Liberalization and Democratic Action for National Reconstruction (LEADER FANILO) party. He pledged to work for the economic development of the country.
Although official figures were not announced
it is estimated that approximately 30 per cent of the 7.5 million registered voters turned out at the polls. No violence was reported on polling day.
The African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) monitored the poll. They reported that the elections were well organized.
On 13 October
the High Constitutional Court (HCC) announced the final results for 125 of the 127 seats. It invalidated the election results for the two remaining seats and ordered fresh elections.
The TIM won 105 of the 125 seats. Nineteen seats went to small parties and independent candidates supporting the TIM. The remaining seat went to Mr. Prezaly of the LEADER FANILO
who then became the sole opposition member in the new National Assembly.
The newly elected National Assembly held a special session on 24 October and elected Mr. Jacques Sylla (TIM) as its new Speaker.
Following the elections
certain independent members joined the TIM while others and members of small parties formed a parliamentary group
known as the Independent Parliamentary Group (GPI
see note). It was led by Mr. Bary Jacobson Ratsimbazafy. The sole opposition member
Mr. Prezaly
joined the GPI.
On 27 October
President Ravalomanana named a new 19-member cabinet. Paramilitary Police Major-General Charles Rabemananjara was maintained as Prime Minister (in addition to the home affairs portfolio). Ms. Cecile Manorohanta was appointed as Defence Minister
becoming the first civilian woman to assume the post.
Elections were repeated for the two seats in the Bealanana and Mananara Avaratra constituencies on 14 November. One went to the TIM while the other went to an independent candidate.
Note on the GPI
The GPI was composed of the following members:
Mr. Bary Jacobson Ratsimbazafy (independent)
Mr. Jonah Pikulas (independent)
Mr. Bruno Josvah (FAMPANDROSOANA MIRINDRA)
Mr. Josvah Randrianantenaina (FAMPANDROSOANA MIRINDRA)
Ms. Aurélie Marie Augustine Razafinjato (VOHIBATO TAPA-KEVITSA)
Ms. Norovelomampionona Robertine Rabetafika (ISANDRA MIVOATRA)
Mr. Jonah Parfait Prezaly (LEADER FANILO)
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 23 September 2007 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Elections on 14 Nov. |
|
|
|
| Tiako I Madagasikara (TIM) |
106
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Independents |
11
|
1 |
|
|
|
| FANJAVA VELOGNO |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| VOHIBATO TAPA-KEVITSA |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| ISANDRA MIVOATRA |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| BRUNLY |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| LIARAIKE |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| FAMPANDROSOANA MIRINDRA |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| LEADER FANILO |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Mayors' Association |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| ANAWI |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
115
12
9.45%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Source: http://www.hcc.gov.mg
Note on the distribution of seats
The statistics above include the results of the repeated elections held on 14 November 2007. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
