Politics of Niger

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

See also: Government of Niger

Politics of Niger
Constitution (suspended)
Government
National Assembly (dissolved)
  • President
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations

Politics of

National Assembly
.

Political parties and elections

Fifth Republic

Continuity

Since the creation of the Fifth Republic in 1999, the political rivalries and parties of the Third Republic have maintained their central role in national politics. There continue to be three large parties, and several smaller ones, with no single party gaining a majority in the

1996 Nigerien coup d'etat.[2]

The same three men who dominated the parties in the Third Republic returned in 1999:

CDS-Rahama.[citation needed
]

1999 elections

Following another coup in April 1999, in which Maïnassara was killed, the MNSD-Nassara's Tandja won the

October 1999 presidential election.[3]

In the

ANDP-Zaman Lahiya, a former split for the MNSD held only four seats.[3] In 2002, this coalition was shored up when the ANDP joined the parliamentary majority coalition, the Alliance of Democratic Forces, leaving the opposition Coordination of Democratic Forces.[4] Djermakoye joined the government as a Minister of State in November 2002, serving in that position until December 2004.[5]

2004 elections

While Tandja easily retained the presidency against a second round challenge by

PSDN-Alheri (1 seat) remained aloof of both blocs.[6]

2007 PM crisis

In December 2004 Hama Amadou was again chosen as Prime Minister. Mahamane Ousmane, the head of the CDS, was re-elected President of the National Assembly. The new second term government of the Fifth Republic took office on 30 December 2004. In June 2007, a no confidence vote against the government led to the fall of the Prime Minister

Council of Ministers of Niger
, with MNSD-Nassara continuing to take the majority of portfolios, but with the CDS, RDP-Jama'a, and NDP-Zaman Lahiya retaining Ministerial appointments.

Tazarce

In the run up to the 2009 elections (Presidential, Assembly, and Municipal), a movement to draft President Tandja for a third term appeared. Led by public figures of the MNSD outside government, the group took the name of Tandja's 2004 re-election slogan, Tazarce: a

Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou reiterated on 22 January that all scheduled elections would go ahead before the end of 2009.[9] In March, during his meetings with French President Sarkozy, Tandja explicitly stated that he would not seek a third term.[10]

Then, in early May 2009, when questioned by the press on his visit to Agadez to begin peace talks with Tuareg rebels, Tandja announced that "the people have demanded I remain."

Presidential republic.[12]
[13] [14] [15]

On 15 May 2009, in response to their parties opposition to a proposed referendum to allow the President to seek a third term, the three members of

ANDP-Zaman Lahiya were replaced with ministers drawn from the MNSD-Nassara. With the continued support of the CDS, the MNSD maintained a working majority of 67 seats in the 113 seat National Assembly.[16]

According to the 1999

CDS-Rahama, the party without which the MNSD could not have formed governments in 1999, 2004, and 2007, came out opposing the referendum, and calling the constitution unalterable.[19][20] Neither party moved into the opposition, and both Ousmane and Djermokoye said they were willing to negotiate with the president.[21]

On 26 March, within hours of the Constitutional courts statement, official media read out a statement that President Tandja had dissolved the National Assembly.

scheduled parliamentary elections
in September, two months early, and a referendum on a new constitution before Presidential elections which can take place no later than December, assuming the 1999 constitution is in effect.

2010 Coup

Main article: 2010 Nigerien coup d'état

On February 19 a group calling itself the Supreme Council for Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) stormed the presidential palace during a meeting and took the president Mamadou Tandja hostage. Colonel Goukoye Abdul Karimou, spokesman for CSRD announced on state television that the country's constitution had been suspended and all state institutions dissolved. It is believed that the president is being held in a garrison in the capital city with his resignation being sought. [24]

Political parties

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Niger. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Niger.

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of Niger

The constitution of December 1992 was revised by national

National Assembly
was expanded in 2004 to 113 deputies elected for a 5-year term under a majority system of representation. Political parties must attain at least 5% of the vote in order to gain a seat in the legislature.

Executive branch

Main article:
President of Niger
Main office-holders
Office Name Party Since
President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland[25] Abdourahamane Tchiani Niger Armed Forces 26 July 2023
Vice President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland[26] Salifou Modi
Prime Minister
 Vacant

prime minister
, named by the president, share executive power.

Legislative branch

Main article:
National Assembly of Niger

The

constituencies and 8 members elected in single-seat national minority constituencies. Political parties must attain at least 5% of the vote in order to gain a seat in the legislature.[citation needed
]

References

  1. ^ Jibrin Ibrahim and Abdoulayi Niandou Souley, "The rise to power of an opposition party: the MNSD in Niger Republic", Unisa Press, Politeia, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1996.
  2. ^ Myriam Gervais, "Niger: Regime Change, Economic Crisis, and Perpetuation of Privilege", in Political Reform in Francophone Africa (1997), ed. John F. Clark and David E. Gardinier, pages 100–101.
  3. ^ a b "RAPPORT DE LA MISSION D’OBSERVATION DES ELECTIONS PRESIDENTIELLES ET LEGISLATIVES DES 17 OCTOBRE ET 24 NOVEMBRE 1999" Archived 18 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine, democratie.francophonie.org (in French).
  4. ^ "L’ANDP de Djermakoye rallie la mouvance présidentielle" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Afrique Express, No. 253, 30 July 2002 (in French).
  5. ^ List of governments of Niger Archived 14 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, izf.net (in French).
  6. ^ Parliamentary groups in the National Assembly, National Assembly web site (2001 archive page) (in French).
  7. ^ Niger's ruling party faces crisis. AFP 04/07/2008
  8. ^ Le Président Tandja reste muet sur les appels en faveur d’une prolongation de son mandat. APA 19 December 2008
  9. Bloomberg news
    . 22 January 2009.
  10. ^ Niger : « Je suis prêt à partir à la fin de mon mandat », affirme le Président nigérien. APA 28 Mars 2009 11:34
    « je ne cherche pas un autre mandat. Donc je suis très clair là-dessus, je n’ai demandé à aucun nigérien si on peut faire ceci ou cela. Jamais, et je n’ai jamais demandé quoi que ce soit pour changer la constitution nigérienne ou à y chercher des modifications »
  11. ^ Le président de la République Mamadou Tandja: «Le peuple demande que je reste, je ne peux pas rester insensible à son appel.». LE TEMOIN 04 - 8 May 2009.
  12. ^ Chronogramme Tazartché: Bonus de 3 ans pour Tandja, Elections locales et législatives en 2009, Elections présidentielles (auxquelles Tandja pouvait participer) en 2012. LE TEMOIN du 11 au 15 mai 2009
  13. ^ ANNONCE DU RÉFÉRENDUM Le planning du Tazartché Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Oumarou Keïta. Republicain-Niger. 15 May 2009.
  14. ^ RÉFÉRENDUM CONSTITUTIONNEL Une présidence à vie s'annonce ! Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Oumarou Keïta. Republicain-Niger. 15 May 2009.
  15. ^ ALa Cedeao contre la réforme constitutionnelle prévue au Niger Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Deutsche Welle. 15 May 2009.
  16. ^ Remaniement gouvernemental au Niger, nouveau ministre de la Justice. AFP 15 May 2009
  17. ^ Niger court says third-term referendum unlawful. Reuters. 26 May 2009
  18. ^ La Cour constitutionnelle du Niger s’oppose au projet de changement de constitution Archived 4 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine APA News. 25 May 2009.
  19. ^ Le principal parti allié de Tandja contre son projet de référendum Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. AFP 15 May 2009.
  20. CDS-Rahama
    . 15 May 2009.
  21. ^ Ousmane et Djermokoye espèrent toujours l’ouverture des négociations avec Tandja . LE TEMOIN du 11 au 15 mai 200
  22. ^ Niger's Tandja dissolves parliament. Reuters. 26 May 2009
  23. ^ Matthew Søberg Shugart. Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive and Mixed Authority Patterns Archived 19 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine. School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. University of California, San Diego (September 2005).
  24. ^ "Breaking News, World News and Video from al Jazeera".
  25. ^ "Niger general Tchiani named head of transitional government after coup". Al Jazeera. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023. saying he was the 'president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland'
  26. Douala, Cameroon
    . Retrieved 6 August 2023. Gen. Salifou Modi, Bazoum's former army chief of staff and the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, is now vice president of the junta.
  • Niger: Description of Electoral System. ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF). 1998–2009.
  • Niger: Comparative Electoral Data. ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF). 1998–2009.
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