MALI

LAST ELECTIONS

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

Chamber:

Assemblée Nationale

Dates of election / renewal (from/to):

1 July 2007

22 July 2007

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all seats in the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

Parliamentary elections in July 2007 followed the re-election of President Amadou Toumani Touré in May. A total of 1,408 candidates, including 227 women, contested the 147 seats in the National Assembly.

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.

STATISTICS


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	%
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

Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP)

114

Democracy and Republic Front (FDR)

Independents

African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI)

Comments:

Source: National Assembly (15.08.2007, 27.02.2008)

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men:

132

Women:

Percent of women:

10.20

Distribution of seats according to age:


31 to 40 years	12
41 to 50 years	50
51 to 60 years	62
61 to 70 years	20
Unknown	3

Distribution of seats according to profession:

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

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

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