Elections in the Comoros

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Elections in the Comoros take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. The President and the majority of the seats in the Assembly of the Union are directly elected.

Electoral history

Following

1945. The following year the islands elected
a General Council for the first time. [1] In 1952 the Council became the Territorial Assembly, and in 1962 became the Chamber of Deputies.[2]

Following independence in the mid-1970s,

1987 parliamentary elections
saw Uzima win all 42 seats.

Multi-party politics was reintroduced in 1990 and

Early elections the following year produced a majority for the pro-presidential Rally for Democracy and Renewal
, which won 28 of the 42 seats.

The

parliamentary elections
in 2009 were won by the Baobab movement supportive of the President.

2015 parliamentary elections produced another fragmented Assembly, with the Union for the Development of the Comoros
emerging as the largest party with eight seats.

Electoral system

President

The

President of the Comoros is elected for a five-year term the two-round system. Prior to a 2018 referendum that amended the electoral system, the presidency rotated between the Comoros' three main islands; Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli
; when it was an island's turn to hold the presidency, the first round was held on that island, with the top three candidates progressing to a nationwide second round.

Assembly of the Union

The 33 seats in the Assembly of the Union are divided into 24 seats directly elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system, and nine seats elected by the Island assemblies, each of which elect three members.[3]

Referendums

Several referendums have been held in the Comoros. In 1958 the islands voted in favour of the new French constitution, which resulted in them becoming part of the French Community (rejection would have led to independence). An independence referendum was held in 1974, which resulted in a large majority (95%) in favour of independence. However, one island, Mayotte, voted against referendum, and was subsequently separated from the rest of the Comoros to remain under French control.

Following independence, a referendum was held on the continued presidency of Ali Soilih in October 1977; despite a vote in favour, Soilih was overthrown the following May. Following his overthrow, a constitutional referendum was held, with 99% of voters voting in favour of the new constitution. Further constitutional referendums were held in 1989, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2009 and 2018.

References

  1. ^ Kevin Shillington (2013) Encyclopedia of African History, Routledge, p291
  2. ^ Martin Ottenheimer & Harriet Ottenheimer (1994) Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands, Scarecrow Press, p67
  3. ^ Electoral system IPU

External links