Parliamentary elections were held in Burkina Faso on 2 December 2012. They were the first elections held since the National Assembly dissolved the National Electoral Commission in 2011, following fraud allegations concerning the 2010 presidential elections. Municipal elections for over 18,000 councillors were held simultaneously.[1] The elections were held amidst a period of political uncertainty, following protests against President Blaise Compaore's regime.[2]

The result was a victory for the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), which won 70 of the 127 seats in the National Assembly.[2]

Background

The 2010 presidential elections were criticized by opposition leaders and independent observers for various missteps in democratic practice. Reported issues included the inappropriate influence of traditional leaders, ballot and voting card shortages at polling stations, inaccurate electoral lists and a misappropriation of resources by the state for Compaore's re-election campaign.[3]

Electoral system

The 127 members of the National Assembly were elected for five-year terms, of which 111 were elected in 45 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from two to nine seats, with the remaining 16 elected in a single nationwide constituency.[2] The elections were conducted using closed list proportional representation.[4] Individual candidates won seats based on their position on the party list, the order of which was decided by each party’s leadership.[5]

Opposition parties criticized the government's inability to reliably determine voter eligibility.[2] In response, the government created a biometric voter identification system, and the National Assembly dissolved the existent Electoral Commission. Pryce and Nascimento noted that these steps, along with government campaigns to encourage women's involvement in politics, mark a movement towards sounder political practices in Burkina Faso.[2]

Campaign

Around 3,000 candidates ran in the 45 provincial constituencies, with 74 parties and electoral alliances competed for the 16 national seats.[2]

The CDP was supported by the Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic Rally, which was still considered an opposition party. The Union for Progress and Change (UPC), formed by a CDP defector, gained attention as a possible challenger to the CDP prior to the election as it protested he party's attempts to lengthen President Compaore’s term via a constitutional amendment that aimed to remove presidential term limits.[2]

Other minor parties emphasized ideological connections to Thomas Sankara, Compaore's predecessor,[2] with four parties considering themselves Sankarist, including the National Council for Rebirth–Sankarist Movement, Pan-African Union for Sankarism–Progressive Movement, Union for Democratic Rebirth–Sankarist Movement and the Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement.[2]

Conduct

According to domestic and international observers, efficiency and legitimacy improved in the 2012 elections after the government introduced electoral reforms, though opposition forces claimed the ruling party used state resources in its campaign.[3] The elections were observed by 37 parties, all from 21 members of the African Union. There were also a small number of domestic observers, most associated with non-partisan non-governmental organizations, including the Centre for Democratic Governance and the Independent Observatory of Elections.[2]

Bernard Makuza, head of the African Union electoral observer mission, declared the elections free and fair, though he decried public apathy toward the elections, especially in the cities.[6] However, the UPC claimed there was vote rigging in Kadiogo Province,[7] following a delay in reporting ballot counts.[6] UPC campaign director Nathaneal Ouedrego declared his intention to "give proof of fraud and irregularities in Kadiogo in the next days in order to demand pure and simply the cancellation of elections in that province".[7]

Results

Just under 76% of eligible voters participated in the elections, the highest turnout since multi-party politics was reintroduced in 2002, possibly due to the perceived viability of opposition to the CDP.[2] Support in some electoral districts shifted from the CDP to the UPC, leading to a notable decrease in the CDP's popular vote count, although it only lost three seats.[2] The UPC secured as many votes as the ADF–RDA, and more votes than any other opposition party. Overall, thirteen parties won seats.

PartyVotes%Seats
Con.Nat.Total+/–
Congress for Democracy and Progress1,467,74948.6662870–3
Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic Rally338,97011.2416218+4
Union for Progress and Reform334,45311.0917219New
Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Party131,5924.363140
Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba118,7133.941120
Union for the Republic92,9353.083150
Convention of Democratic Forces72,2992.402130
Organisation for Democracy and Labour62,4792.07101New
National Union for Democracy and Development43,7951.45101+1
Alternative Faso40,3101.34101New
Rally for the Development of Burkina29,1640.97101–1
National Rebirth Party26,1250.87000–1
National Alliance for Development–Social Justice Party23,7190.79000New
Rally for Democracy and Socialism23,5040.78101New
Social Forces Front22,0900.73000–1
National Convention for the Progress of Burkina13,5050.45101New
Rally of the Republicans11,9890.40000New
African Movement of the Peoples11,7020.39000New
Rally of the Ecologists of Burkina11,5390.380000
Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party11,3160.38000–2
Patriotic Party for Development9,3600.31000New
Party of Independence, Labour and Justice8,1390.27000New
Union for Democratic Rebirth/Sankarist Movement7,7690.26000New
Independent Party of Burkina7,5120.25000New
Patriotic Movement for the Renewal of Burkina6,9130.23000New
Party for National Unity and Development5,0930.17000New
National Democratic Convention4,9760.16000New
Rally for Independent Forces/Party of the Youth of Burkina4,8830.16000New
Alternative Burkina–Party for Socialism and Reformation4,7830.16000New
Union of Centrist Forces4,6230.15000New
Alliance for Rebirth, Democracy and Integration3,8970.13000New
African Progressive Movement3,8050.13000New
Alliance of Revolutionary Democrats3,7260.120000
Alliance of Progressive Forces3,5190.12000New
Burkinabé People's Party3,4060.11000New
Movement of the People for Socialism–Federal Party3,2430.110000
Union of Patriots for Development2,9970.100000
Union of Democrats for Social Progress2,8070.09000New
National Convention for Reform2,4680.080000
Union of Progressive Forces2,4360.080000
Alliance for Democracy of Faso2,0910.070000
Pro-Democratic Organisation for the Defence of Nature2,0620.07000New
Republican Party for Total Independence1,9620.07000New
Party for the Rebirth of Democracy in Faso1,7400.06000New
Unified Socialist Party1,4700.050000
National Union for Independence and Solidarity1,4010.050000
Party for Progress and National Renewal1,3910.050000
National Council for the Renaissance–Sankarist Movement1,3150.040000
National Party of Social Democrats1,3130.04000New
Pan-African Movement of Faso1,2970.040000
Union for the People's Movement1,2830.04000New
Social Union of Burkina1,1860.040000
Party of Patriotic Progressives1,1020.04000New
Convention for Democracy and Liberty1,0770.04000New
Union for the Democratic Rebirth of Burkina9360.03000New
Movement for Progress and Reform8700.03000New
People's Council for Action8490.03000New
Patriotic Movement for Alternation8100.03000New
Party of Pan-African Patriots7910.03000New
Patriotic Front for Change7150.020000
Greens of Faso6800.020000
Party for the Protection of the Environment/Nature Conservation6780.020000
Patriotic Rally of Salvation6710.02000New
Pan-African Union for Sankarism–Progressive Movement6580.02000New
People's Movement for Democracy6560.02000New
Union for Democracy and Development5100.02000New
Alliance for the Republic and Democracy4020.01000New
Patriotic Movement of Democratic Youths3790.010000
New Political Rally3630.01000New
Union of Democratic Forces of Burkina3590.01000New
Centrist Party for Democracy and Progress3530.01000New
National Union for Democracy and Progress3380.010000
Union of Democratic Forces and Progressives2810.01000New
Fasocrat Party870.00000New
Total3,016,379100.0011116127+16
Valid votes3,016,37990.97
Invalid/blank votes299,4169.03
Total votes3,315,795100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,365,15375.96
Source: CENI, Psephos

References

  1. Burkina Faso Awaits Election Results Voice of Africa, 3 December 2012
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pryce, Paul; Nascimento, Maria Ines (June 2014). "Notes on recent elections: The 2012 parliamentary election in Burkina Faso". Electoral Studies. 34: 338–342. doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2013.08.016.
  3. 1 2 "Burkina Faso". Freedom House. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  4. Election Profile IFES
  5. "Electoral Systems". ACE Project. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Burkina Faso: Parliamentary Elections". Africa Research Bulletin. 49 (12): 19520B–19521A. 24 January 2013. doi:10.1111/j.1467-825X.2013.04842.x.
  7. 1 2 "Ruling party wins majority in Burkina Faso vote". Thomson Reuters. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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