| Dioncounda Traoré ( M) |
| Mohamed Traoré ( M) |
B.P. 284 - BAMAKO
Tel.: (223) 221 57 24, 221 61 69
Fax: (223) 221 03 74
E-mail: idysylla@assemblee-nationale.insti.ml
Cable: Assemblée nationale, Bamako
Telex: ASSNAT 2419 MJ
| http://www.assemblee-nationale.insti.ml/ |
1981 - 1991
1992
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Malian citizenship also citizens of other African countries who have their residence in Mali and are registered as electors, if they satisfy general requirements pertaining to the electorate
- Full possession of civil and political rights
- Disqualifications: conviction of certain crimes, imprisonment for at least 3 months for other offences, undischarged bankrupts, guardianship
- Domicile in Mali for at least one year
- Age: 21 years
- Malian citizenship
- Ineligibility: persons who have been naturalised within the preceding 10 years
- Membership of the armed or police forces
- Deposit of 50 000 F CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine franc) per candidate.
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
In 2006, the government had proposed a 30 per cent quota for women among party-list candidates. However, after a heated debate in parliament, the electoral law was adopted without this provision. As a result, the number of female candidates remained low.
Though President Touré is not a member of a political party, he backed the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) which comprises 30 political parties and many associations (see note). The ADP was formed on the initiative of the Alliance for Democracy in Mali-African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMA-PASJ, 45 seats in the 2002 elections), led by Mr. Dioncounda Traoré, and the Republic and Democracy Union (URD) of Mr. Soumaïla Cissé. Mr. Cissé had defected from the ADEMA-PASJ and formed the URD after being defeated by Mr. Touré in the 2002 presidential elections. President Touré called for voters' support for the ADP and urged massive participation in the elections.
The main opposition figure was former prime minister and outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita. He had left the ADEMA-PASJ in 2000 and formed the Rally for Mali (RPM), which had won 46 seats in the 2002 elections. He finished second in the 2007 presidential elections. The RPM pledged to promote democracy, establish good governance and share the benefits of development. The RPM was part of the Democracy and Republic Front (FDR), which also comprised the National Renaissance Party (PARENA), led by Mr. Tiébilé Dramé, another unsuccessful presidential candidate. He led the election campaign under the slogan "A different Mali is possible".
The African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) did not align itself with any coalition. It was led by Mr. Oumar Mariko, who came in fourth in the 2007 presidential elections. He opposed the privatization of State-owned companies.
In all, 33 per cent of the 6.2 million registered voters turned out for the first round, held on 1 July, while turnout was even lower in the second round held on 22 July (reportedly between 10 and 12 per cent).
Some 900 observers, including 200 international observers, monitored the polls. No major irregularities were recorded. The observers from the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) declared the elections to be well organized, but regretted the low turnout.
In the first round of the parliamentary elections, 13 ADP candidates were elected.
The second round was held on 22 July for the remaining 134 seats in 47 constituencies. The ADP took 101 more seats, winning 114 seats in all. Outgoing Speaker Kéita's RPM picked up 11 seats in all. Together with the PARENA, the FDR took 15 seats. The SADI took four seats while the other seats went to independent candidates. Only 27 members of the outgoing legislature were re-elected. Fifteen women were elected.
The newly elected National Assembly was convened on 3 September and elected Mr. Dioncounda Traoré (ADEMA-PASJ) as its new Speaker.
Note:
The following parties of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) entered the newly elected National Assembly:
- Alliance for Democracy in Mali-African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMA-PASJ): 51 seats
- Republic and Democracy Union (URD): 35 seats
- Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR): 9 seats
- Democratic Initiative National Congress of Mali (CNID): 7 seats
- Democracy and Development Union (UDD): 3 seats
- Bloc of Changeover for Renaissance, Integration and African Cooperation (BARICA): 2 seats*
- Movement for Independence, Renaissance and African Integration (MIRIA): 2 seats*
- Democracy and African Integration Bloc (BDIA): 1 seat*
- Solidarity and Progress Party (PSP): 1 seat
- Citizens for Renewal Party (PCR): 1 seat*
- African Democratic Rally (RDA): 1 seat*
- National Democratic Rally (RND): 1 seat*
* These parties formed the Alliance for the Consolidation of the Majority following the elections (see the note on the final composition of the National Assembly). The BARICA, the MIRA, and the PCR entered the parliament for the first time.
The Democracy and Republic Front (FDR) comprises the following parties:
- Rally for Mali (RPM): 11 seats
- National Renaissance Party (PARENA): 4 seats
Note on the final composition of the National Assembly:
On 18 September, eight parliamentary groups were formed and were validated by the Constitutional Court on 19 September. The ADEMA-PASJ became the largest group with 46 members, followed by the URD with 29. Some 24 members formed a group of independents. The Alliance for the Consolidation of the Majority had 13 members, most of whom had supported President Touré in the 2007 elections (see note). The RPM formed a separate parliamentary group comprising 11 members. The PARENA and the SADI formed a parliamentary group composed of nine members. The Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR) had eight members and the Democratic Initiative National Congress of Mali (CNID) seven.
| Round no 1 (1 July 2007): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 6'267'363 | |||
| Voters | 32.19% | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | ||||
| Valid votes | ||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democracy and Republic Front (FDR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) | 114 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democracy and Republic Front (FDR) | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 to 40 years | 12 |
| 41 to 50 years | 50 |
| 51 to 60 years | 62 |
| 61 to 70 years | 20 |
| Unknown | 3 |
| Liberal professions (including artists, authors) and sports professionals | 35 | |
| Educators | 31 | |
| Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) | 25 | |
| Business/trade/industry employees, including executives | 11 | |
| Others | 9 | |
| Economists | 9 | |
| Legal professions | 5 | |
| Farmers/agricultural workers (including wine growers) | 5 | |
| Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants | 4 | |
| Unknown | 3 | |
| Medical professions (doctors, dentists, nurses) | 2 | |
| Clerical occupations | 2 | |
| Engineers/PC experts | 2 | |
| Consultants (including real estate agents) | 1 | |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) | 1 | |
| Scientists and researchers | 1 | |
| Architects | 1 |
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly
- an absolute majority is required for the first two rounds and a relative majority for the third round; in case of a tie in the third round, a drawing of lots is held
- three tellers supervise the voting
- the senior Member announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
- can serve as acting Head of State for 21 days minimum and 40 days maximum
- only represents the Assembly within inter-parliamentary bodies
- presides ex officio over the Conference of Spokesmen
- in the absence of the President, the first Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions
- consists of the President, 4 Vice-Presidents, 4 parliamentary secretaries and 2 questors
- members serve a one-year term
- generally meets once a week
- constitutes a true collegial presidency
+ expense allowance of 100,000 CFA francs per month
+ session allowance of 8,500 CFA per day
- official residence
- official car with chauffeur
- cabinent and secretariat
- bodyguards
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
The Conference of Spokesmen:
- estabishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- gives and withdraws permission to speak
- has a parliamentary Secretary establish the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- has a parliamentary Secretary check the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- appoints the Clerk
The Board:
- organizes the services of the Assembly
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
- can provide guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting like all Deputies
- can propose bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- authenticates bills before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation
- may refer a law to the Constitutional Court before its promulgation by the Head of State
- appoints three of the nine members of the Constitutional Court
- may be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, etc.)
· Procedure (Art. 86, 87 and 94 (1) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 8 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the National Assembly
(b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision in the event of final sentending by the courts for felonies or crimes
(c) Compulsory resignation for incompatibility
· Basic salary see also Art. 95 (1) of the Standing Orders): $ 350
+ Sessional allowance: CFA F 10,500 per day's attendance during sessions
+ Lump sum for representation expenses for the President and for members Board (see also Art. 95 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
· No exemption from tax
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for parliamentary groups
(b) Assistants for each committee
(c) Official housing for the President
(d) Official car for the Presidents and Vice-Presidents
(e) Security guards for the President
(f) Postal and telephone services for all deputies
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament.
· Derogations: offence or insult (Art. 43 (1), 45 (2), 46 and 47 (1) of the Standing Orders; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins.
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of parking tickets 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, prosecution or arrests in criminal or correctional proceedings are possible in cases involving flagrante delicto (Art. 62 (3) of the Constitution).
- When Parliament is in recess, arrest is possible in cases involving flagrante delicto, authorised prosecution or final sentencing (Art. 62 (4) of the Constitution).
· 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. 62 (3) and (4) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly, the Board
- Procedure (Art. 62 (3) and (4) of the Constitution, Art. 50 of the Standing Orders). In this case, MPs can be heard.
· 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. 62 (5) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly
- Procedure (Art. 62 (5) of the Constitution, Art. 50 of the Standing Orders)
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned can be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament:
- Competent authority: the competent judge
· It is provided by the political parties and NGOs.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation:
- Plenary sitting: loss of mandate (Art. 96 of the Standing Orders)
- Committee: reduction of allowances, loss of committee membership (Art. 30 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Plenary sitting: the National Assembly
- Committee: the Committee Officers
· Disciplinary measures foreseen (Art. 44 of the Standing Orders):
- Call to order (Art. 45 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders)
- Call to order with entry in the record (Art. 45 (3) and (4) of the Standing Orders)
- Simple censure with entry in the record (Art. 46, 48 and 49 (1) of the Standing Orders)
- Censure with temporary exclusion, possibly with suspension of the sitting (Art. 47, 48 and 49 (2) of the Standing Orders)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 43 (1), 45 (2), 46 and 47 (1) of the Standing Orders): all penalties foreseen
- Disturbance (Art. 41 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders): expulsion from the room, possibly with the establishment of a report and referral to the Chief Prosecutor
- Noisy signs of approval or disapproval (Art. 42 (3) of the Standing Orders): exclusion from the room
- Uproar (Art. 43 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders): suspension of the sitting
· Competent body to judge such cases:
- Call to order, offence or insult, disturbance, noisy signs of approval or disapproval, uproar: the President
- Call to order with entry in the record, offence or insult: the President of the National Assembly
- Simple censure with entry in the record, censure with temporary exclusion, possibly with suspension of the sitting, offence or insult: the National Assembly
The President shall apply penalties.
· Procedure:
- Call to order (Art. 45 of the Standing Orders)
- Censure (Art. 47 (2) and (3), 48 and 49 of the Standing Orders)
- Offence or insult (Art. 43 (1), 45 (2), 46 and 47 (1) of the Standing Orders)
- Disturbance (Art. 41 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Noisy signs of approval or disapproval (Art. 42 (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Uproar (Art. 43 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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