Chamber:
	Conseil national
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	9 February 2003
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Voters went to the polls on 9 February 2003 to elect the members of the National Council, enlarged since the previous elections in 1998 from 18 to 24 members. Other notable new features were the amended electoral system, adopted in 2002, which introduced a modest element of proportional representation, and the fact that those aged between 18 and 21 were for the first time entitled to vote. A very tense electoral campaign focused on the personalities of the two main candidates: Mr Jean-Louis Campora, leader of the National and Democratic Union (UND), President of the National Council since 1993 and a member of the National Council continuously since 1973, and Mr Stéphane Valéri, leader of the opposition Union for Monaco (UPM) and a former member of the UND. The UPM is a recently-formed coalition of three parties. The two sides contested the elections on a similar platform: giving priority to Monegasque nationals in employment and housing, and upholding the values of the Principality. Turnout was high, at roughly 80% of the 5 800-strong electorate. The UPM obtained 21 of the 24 seats, bringing to an end 40 years of government by the UND, which obtained only three seats. This marked a sharp decline compared with the previous elections, when it had won all 18 seats. Mr Campora lost his seat, and Mr Stéphane Valéri was elected President of the National Council.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (9 February 2003): Elections results
Number of registered electors	5 842
Voters	4 658 (80 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	159
Valid votes	4 499

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Union for Monaco (UPM)	21
National and Democratic Union (UND)	3

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	19
Women:	5
Percent of women:	20.83