Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2008
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Djibouti |
 This article is part of the series: |
|
|
|
Other countries · Atlas Politics Portal |
A parliamentary election was held in Djibouti on 8 February 2008.[1] There were 65 candidates running for the 65 seats in the National Assembly, with all of the candidates coming from the ruling coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP).[2] The opposition boycotted the election, and the UMP won all 65 seats.[3]
In boycotting the election, the opposition complained that the electoral system guaranteed victory for the UMP;[1][2] in the previous January 2003 parliamentary election, the UMP won all 65 seats even though the opposition won 38% of the vote.[1] The opposition unsuccessfully demanded that proportional representation be introduced. Ismael Guedi Hared, a leader of the opposition Union for a Democratic Alternative, said that the country effectively had a one-party system, that "none of the democratic rules [were] respected", and that the government was unwilling to accept proportional representation because it was fearful of discontent.[2]
In a decree on 26 December 2007, President Ismail Omar Guelleh set the election date for 8 February 2008.[4] Subsequently, in a presidential decree on 6 January 2008, campaigning was scheduled to begin at midnight on 25 January and run until midnight on 6 February.[5]
Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita headed the UMP list.[1][2] According to Dileita, the government's refusal to introduce proportional representation was due to the need to preserve "the tribal balance", pointing to chaotic conditions of neighboring Somalia as an example to avoid. He did, however, say that it might be necessary to consider introducing proportional representation at some future time.[2]
Yacin Elmi Bouh, the Minister of the Interior, announced on 9 February that the UMP had won all 65 seats and placed turnout at 72.61%, which he said was the highest in 15 years. Out of 151,490 registered voters, 109,999 were said to have voted, with 103,463 votes in favor of the UMP and 6,536 null votes. Voter registration was low, however.[3]
| Parties and coalitions | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
Union for the Presidential Majority (Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle)
|
103,463 | 94.06 | 65 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 6,536 | 5.94 | — |
| Total (turnout 72.61%) | 109,999 | 65 | |
| Source: AFP | |||
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Début du vote avec retard pour les législatives", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 8 February 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Djibouti votes amid opposition boycott", AFP (IOL), February 8, 2008.
- ^ a b "Législatives à Djibouti: victoire du parti présidentiel, forte participation", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 9 February 2008 (French).
- ^ "Décret n°2007-0252/PR/MID fixant la date des éléctions législatives.", Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, 26 December 2007 (French).
- ^ "Décret n°2008-0001/PR/MID fixant la date d'ouverture et de fermeture de la campaqne électorale pour les élections législatives du 08 Février 2008.", Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, 6 January 2008 (French).
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
This Djibouti-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This African election-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
