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COTE D'IVOIRE
Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1968 - 2000
2001 -
LEADERSHIP
President Guillaume Soro (M) 
Notes Elected on 12 March 2012, re-elected on 9 Jan. 2017.
Secretary General Ahouanzi N'Drin Lazare Latte (M) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 255 / 255
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 27 (10.59%)
Mode of designation directly elected 255
Term 5 years
Notes With the entry into force of the 2016 Constitution, in keeping with the provisions of Article 183(3) of the Constitution the sitting Parliament's term will expire in December 2020.
Last renewal dates 18 December 2016
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Assemblée nationale
01 B.P. 1381
ABIDJAN 01
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (225) 20 21 60 69
20 20 82 00
20 21 11 59
20 20 82 34
Fax (225) 20 20 82 33
20 22 70 43
E-mail courrier@assnat.ci
infos@assnat.ci
Website
http://www.assnat.ci/
http://www.gouv.ci/assnat_1.php

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 1 August 2000
Last amendment: Decree No 2011-382 of 10 November 2011
Mode of designation directly elected 255
Constituencies 154 constituencies (single or multi-member).
Voting system Majority: Simple majority vote in one round
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within 3 months. No by-election is held within the last 12 months of the legislature.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 21 years
- Côte d'Ivoire citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- disqualifications: insanity, conviction for crime
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 25 years
- Côte d'Ivoire citizenship
- ineligibility: guardianship
Incompatibilities - inspectors of administrative affairs or in the education, labour or social sectors
- prefects
- directors of government departments
- judges
- membership of the Economic and Social Council or the Cabinet
- non-elective public offices
- work undertaken for and financed by a foreign State or international organization
- executive in a national enterprise or one benefiting from state concessions
Candidacy requirements - candidates may run as independents or as members of a political party
- nominations submitted to the Ministry of the Interior at least 21 days before the polling date
- deposit of Fr. CFA 100,000, reimbursed if the candidate or list polls at least 10% of the votes cast

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 18 December 2016
Timing and scope of renewal President Alassane Ouattara's Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) retained its majority in the 255-member National Assembly, taking 167 seats. Two pro-presidential parties – the Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI) and the Union for Côte d'Ivoire (UPCI) - won a total of nine seats. A faction of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI, of the ousted former President Laurent Gbagbo) led by Mr. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, participated in the 2016 elections and took three seats. Other FPI members vowed to continue their boycott until Mr. Gbagbo - on trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity – returns to the country. During the election campaign, the RHDP ran on the government's record, promising to accelerate the progress of the country.

The 2016 elections followed the approval of a new Constitution in a referendum in October 2016. The new Constitution was proposed in May 2016 by President Ouattara (who was re-elected for a second and final five-year term in October 2015). It provides for the post of Vice-President and a Senate, which is yet to be established. The Senate will be a representative body of territorial communities and Ivoirians abroad. The new Constitution also loosened the eligibility conditions for the presidency: henceforth, only one parent must be Ivorian, instead of both parents previously.
Date of previous elections: 11 December 2011

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: December 2020

Number of seats at stake: 255 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 1,336 (1,170 men, 166 women)*
*The statistics above refers to the number of titular candidates. In addition, there were 1,336 substitute candidates including 162 women (12.13%).

Percentage of women candidates: 12.43%

Number of parties contesting the election: 39

Number of parties winning seats: 4

Alternation of power: No

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 9 January 2017

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Guillaume Soro (Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, RHDP)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 118 December 2016
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
6'268'113
2'137'364 (34.1%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP)
Independents
Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI)
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI)
Union for Côte d'Ivoire (UPCI)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) 167
Independents 76
Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI) 6
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) 3
Union for Côte d'Ivoire (UPCI) 3
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
226

29

11.37%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Two candidates won exactly the same number of votes in one constituency. A male independent candidate won the run-off elections held on 29 December.
In January 2017, the Constitutional Council invalidated the results in two other constituencies. Fresh elections were held on 28 January. The male candidates who were initially elected (one independent, one from UPCI) won the fresh elections. The results above reflect these elections.
In mid-January 2017, two women members were appointed ministers and replaced by their male substitutes. As at 22 February, there were 27 women out of 255 members.

Sources:
National Assembly (01.01.2017, 22.02.2017)
https://www.cei-ci.org/pdf/EDAN-2016-RESULTAT-NATIONAL-SYNTHESE.PDF
https://www.cei-ci.org
http://www.france24.com
http://news.abidjan.net
http://www.africanews.com/
http://mgafrica.com
https://www.facebook.com/Rassemblement-des-Houphou%C3%ABtistes-pour-la-D%C3%A9mocratie-et-la-Paix-683005885144897/

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 35 (2) and (3) of the Constitution of 03.11.1960, with amendments up to 16.08.1994)
Start of the mandate · When the last legislature ends
Validation of mandates · Validation by the Constitutional Council only in case of challenge (Art. 29 (6) and 30 (1) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 102 to 105 of the Electoral Code, Rules of Procedure before the Constitutional Council)
End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends (Art. 29 (3) of the Constitution; early dissolution not foreseen in the Constitution)
Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 8 (1) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
· Procedure (Art. 8 (1) and (5) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly): resignations are addressed to the Speaker who informs the National Assembly accordingly at the next sitting. The President of the Republic is notified immediately of any resignations ac-cepted by the National Assembly.
· Authority competent to accept the resignation (Art. 8 (5) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly): the National Assembly

Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for non-attendance of sittings of the National Assembly (Art. 8 (2) to (5) of the Standing Orders)
(b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision:
- Loss of mandate for ineligibility or change in political affiliation (Art. 106 of the Electoral Code)
- Final judicial sentencing following the lifting of parliamentary immunity
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The Vice-Presidents
3. The Questors
4. The Secretaries
5. The Committee Presidents
6. The leaders of parliamentary groups
7. The other deputies
· Outside Parliament: the official order of precedence ranks the President of the National Assembly in the 3rd position and the other deputies in the 6th position.
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary (see also Art. 38 of the Constitution): CFA F 923,000
+ Additional allowance: CFA F 200,000
· Exemption from tax for the additional allowance. The basic salary is not tax exempt.
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Official car for the President and the questors
(b) Telephone service within Parliament
(c) Travel and transport: 50% reduction on all national airlines
(d) Other
Obligation to declare personal assets No
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept exists (Art. 36 of the Constitution, Art. 57 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly).
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament.
· Derogations: offence or insult (Art. 34 (7), 67 (1), 69 (2), 70 (2) and (4) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept exists (Art. 37 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 58 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of minor infractions (moving violations, etc.) and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations:
- When Parliament is in session, a deputy may be prosecuted or arrested in criminal proceedings in cases involving flagrante delicto.
- When Parliament is in recess, a deputy may be arrested in cases involving flagrante delicto, authorised prosecution or final sentencing.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 37 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 58 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly; the Board of the National Assembly (arrests during recesses)
- Procedure (Art. 15 (2), Art. 59 and 60 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly). In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members (Art. 37 (2) of the Constitution, Art. 58 (3) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly
- Procedure (Art. 59 and 60 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· It is provided by the parliamentary groups.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Standing Orders of the National Assembly
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at committee meetings (Art. 14 (2) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation:
- In plenary sitting (Art. 8 (2) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly): compulsory resignation (see Loss of mandate)
- In committee (Art. 14 (4) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly): automatic exclusion
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- In plenary sitting: the National Assembly
- In committee: the Committee
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 29 (1), Art. 34 (4 ) to (7), Art. 37 (1), Art. 65 (2) and (3), Art. 66 (4) and Art. 67 to 70 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen (Art. 68 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly):
- Call to order (Art. 34 (5) and 69 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
- Call to order with entry in the record (Art. 34 (6) and 69 (3) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
- Censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary (Art. 34 (6) and 70 (1) to (3) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
- Censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of half of the basic salary (Art. 70 (1) (4) and (5) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
- Withdrawal of speaking rights (Art. 37 (1) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
- Deletion of comments from the record (Art. 34 (4) and (5) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 34 (7), 67 (1), 69 (2), 70 (2) and (4) of the Standing Orders): call to order; call to order with entry in the record; censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary; censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of half of the basic salary
- Disturbance (Art. 65 (2) and ( 3), 66 (4) and 67 (1) of the Standing Orders): expulsion from the meeting room, arrest, drawing-up of an official report, referral to the Public Prosecutor
- Uproar (Art. 67 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders): suspension of the sitting, lifting of the sitting
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Art. 29 (1) of the Standing Orders):
- Call to order, offence or insult, withdrawal of speaking rights, deletion of comments from the record uproar: the Speaker
- Call to order with entry in the record, censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary, censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of half of the basic salary, offence or insult: the National Assembly
- Disturbance: the President, the clerks or officials responsible for maintaining order
· Procedure:
- Call to order, offence or insult (Art. 34 (5) and 69 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders)
- Call to order with entry in the record, offence or insult (Art. 34 (6) and 69 (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary, offence or insult (Art. 34 (6) and 70 (1) to (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of half of the basic salary, offence or insult (Art. 70 (1), (4) and (5) of the Standing Orders)
- Withdrawal of speaking rights (Art. 37 (1) of the Standing Orders)
- Deletion of comments from the record (Art. 34 (4) and (5) of the Standing Orders)
- Disturbance (Art. 65 (2) and (3) and 66 (4) of the Standing Orders)
- Uproar (Art. 67 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there is a relevant provision (Art. 74 in conjunction with Art. 68 of the Standing Orders).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the this rule (Art. 74 in conjunction with Art. 68 of the Standing Orders):
- Call to order
- Call to order with entry in the record
- Censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary
- Censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of the basic salary
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Call to order: the Speaker
- Call to order with entry in the record; censure with two weeks' forfeiture of half of the basic salary; censure with temporary exclusion and one month's forfeiture of half of the basic salary: the National Assembly
Relations between MPs and pressure group · There is a legal provision in this field (Art. 9 (6) of the Standing Orders; ban on the formation of groups for the defence of special and professional interests within the National Assembly).

This page was last updated on 14 December 2018
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