DJIBOUTI: parliamentary elections Assemblée nationale, 2003

DJIBOUTI
Parliamentary Chamber: Assemblée nationale

ELECTIONS HELD IN 2003

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for DJIBOUTI <<<

Chamber:

Assemblée nationale

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

10 January 2003

Purpose of elections:

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

Background and outcome of elections:

In anticipation of the legislative elections scheduled for 10 January 2003, on 27 December 2002 the two political blocs in the running officially launched their electoral campaigns, which ended on 8 January 2003. The two political groupings were, on the one hand, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), made up of four parties of the presidential movement, namely the Popular Rally for Progress (RPP), the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), the National Democratic Party (PND) and the Social Democratic People's Party (PPSD), and, on the other hand, the Union for Democratic Change of Power (UAD), a coalition of four opposition parties: the Republican Alliance for Democracy (ARD), the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MRD) and the Djibouti Development Party (PDD).
During the campaign, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) promised to pursue numerous development projects and to fight poverty and unemployment, while the Union for Democratic Change of Power urged citizens to push for political change and criticised the "economic and financial track record" of the authorities, promising significant changes in the way the country is run if it won.
The legislative elections were monitored by the Independent National Election Commission (CENI) and by international observers from the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Organisation of Francophonie (OIF). These observers stated that "the electoral operations have been free from irregularities". They also noted that "barring a few isolated incidents, the voting took place not only in good conditions but also in a generally calm climate".
The Union for the Presidential Majority swept all 65 seats in the National Assembly. The leader of the opposition, former Prime Minister Ahmed Dini, denounced cases of "fraud" stressing that he would use "legal channels" to challenge the results and that he had urged his sympathizers not to take to the streets.
The 2003 elections were marked by the admission of women, seven in number, to the National Assembly. This development follows a new law establishing that the minimum number of either women or men candidates in each political party's list must be equivalent to 10 per cent of the seats to be filled.
On 21 January 2003, Mr. Idriss Arnaoud Ali became the new President of the National Assembly.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (10 January 2003): Elections results

Number of registered electors 178 799

Voters 86 482 (48 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 1 528

Valid votes 84 954

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) 53 293 62.73

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) 65

Comments:

Four parties form the UMP:

Popular Rally for Progress (RPP)
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD)
National Democratic Party (NDP)
Social Democratic People's Party (PPSD)

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 58

Women: 7

Percent of women: 10.77

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for DJIBOUTI <<<

Chamber:
	Assemblée nationale
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	10 January 2003
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	In anticipation of the legislative elections scheduled for 10 January 2003, on 27 December 2002 the two political blocs in the running officially launched their electoral campaigns, which ended on 8 January 2003. The two political groupings were, on the one hand, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), made up of four parties of the presidential movement, namely the Popular Rally for Progress (RPP), the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), the National Democratic Party (PND) and the Social Democratic People's Party (PPSD), and, on the other hand, the Union for Democratic Change of Power (UAD), a coalition of four opposition parties: the Republican Alliance for Democracy (ARD), the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MRD) and the Djibouti Development Party (PDD). During the campaign, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) promised to pursue numerous development projects and to fight poverty and unemployment, while the Union for Democratic Change of Power urged citizens to push for political change and criticised the "economic and financial track record" of the authorities, promising significant changes in the way the country is run if it won. The legislative elections were monitored by the Independent National Election Commission (CENI) and by international observers from the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Organisation of Francophonie (OIF). These observers stated that "the electoral operations have been free from irregularities". They also noted that "barring a few isolated incidents, the voting took place not only in good conditions but also in a generally calm climate". The Union for the Presidential Majority swept all 65 seats in the National Assembly. The leader of the opposition, former Prime Minister Ahmed Dini, denounced cases of "fraud" stressing that he would use "legal channels" to challenge the results and that he had urged his sympathizers not to take to the streets. The 2003 elections were marked by the admission of women, seven in number, to the National Assembly. This development follows a new law establishing that the minimum number of either women or men candidates in each political party's list must be equivalent to 10 per cent of the seats to be filled. On 21 January 2003, Mr. Idriss Arnaoud Ali became the new President of the National Assembly.

Round no 1 (10 January 2003): Elections results
Number of registered electors	178 799
Voters	86 482 (48 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	1 528
Valid votes	84 954

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP)	53 293	62.73

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP)	65

Comments:
	Four parties form the UMP: Popular Rally for Progress (RPP) Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) National Democratic Party (NDP) Social Democratic People's Party (PPSD)

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	58
Women:	7
Percent of women:	10.77