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2015 Lesotho general election

General elections were held in Lesotho on 28 February 2015 for all 120 seats of the National Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Lesotho, more than two years ahead of schedule due to the 2014 political crisis.[1] Following mediation facilitated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC),[2] King Letsie III on the advice of the incumbent Prime Minister Tom Thabane, dissolved the Eighth Parliament and called a snap election.[3]

2015 Lesotho general election

← 2012 28 February 2015 2017 →

All 120 seats in the National Assembly
61 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats +/–
DC Pakalitha Mosisili 38.37 47 -1
ABC Tom Thabane 37.75 46 +16
LCD Mothetjoa Metsing 9.91 12 -14
BNP Thesele Maseribane 5.53 7 +2
PFD 1.73 2 -1
RCL 1.18 2 New
NIP Kimetso Mathaba 0.95 1 -1
MFP 0.60 1 0
BCP 0.48 1 0
LPC Kelebone Maope 0.34 1 0
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after election
Tom Thabane
ABC
Pakalitha Mosisili
DC

Lesotho uses the mixed-member proportional representation voting system. More than 1.2 million voters had been registered by the Independent Electoral Commission.[4] The army was confined to the barracks on the election day.[5] The opposition Democratic Congress managed to form a coalition government as no party achieved an outright majority.[6] Voter turnout was 48%.

Background Edit

After the 2012 election, Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's Democratic Congress failed to attain a majority; and thus a coalition government was formed among the three opposition parties: All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and the Basotho National Party (BCP). The government was led by ABC's Tom Thabane, who served as the new Prime Minister; whilst the leader of LCD, Mothetjoa Metsing was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister.[7]

Following political tensions and the suspension of the National Assembly over the controversial change of the head of the army from Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli to Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, an attempted coup d'état[citation needed] forced Prime Minister Tom Thabane to flee the country. He then returned under cover of South African and Namibian police, who guarded him around-the-clock. Under the auspices of the SADC, mediation led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa resulted in a call for an early election. The national elections took place on 28 February.[8] Thabane was backed by the national police, while his deputy Mothetjoa Metsing was backed by the army, which refused to recognise the change in army leadership.

On 17 October, the National Assembly reconvened in a bid to avert the political crisis, with Thabane's advisor Tumisang Mosotho saying "It’s a milestone. We want to hope this is the first step in the right direction, in liberating our country from the danger that has surrounded us these past few months".[9] Senate Chief Whip Khoabane Theko said: "This is what we can call maybe the beginning of the process that takes us to the elections, because we are going to have a budget and maybe deliberate other laws... ahead of our elections from here on".[10]

Electoral system Edit

The 120 members of the National Assembly are elected in two groups; 80 are elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting, with 40 elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. Voters cast one vote[11] and the 40 proportional seats are allocated in a compensatory system, in order to reflect the number of votes received by each party, making it a variant of the mixed-member proportional electoral system.[12]

Campaign Edit

Thabane said that he would run again seeking a new mandate after signing the Maseru Facilitation Declaration.[13]

Results Edit

Election observer missions were deployed to the kingdom from the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations and SADC; and were led by former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Botswana President Festus Mogae and South African International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane respectively.[2]

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the citizens for conducting a peaceful election.[14] The SADC Election Observer Mission concluded that the elections were "peaceful, transparent, credible, free and fair."[2]

The Democratic Congress formed a coalition government with the Lesotho Congress for Democracy and five other smaller parties as no party achieved an outright majority. Pakalitha Mosisili took over as Prime Minister whilst incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing retained his position.[6]

 
PartyVotes%Seats
ConstituencyPRTotal+/–
Democratic Congress218,57338.37371047–1
All Basotho Convention215,02237.7540646+16
Lesotho Congress for Democracy56,4679.9121012–14
Basotho National Party31,5085.53167+2
Popular Front for Democracy9,8291.73022–1
Reformed Congress of Lesotho6,7311.18022New
National Independent Party5,4040.95011–1
Marematlou Freedom Party3,4130.600110
Basutoland Congress Party2,7210.480110
Lesotho People's Congress1,9510.340110
Basotho Democratic National Party1,9010.33000–1
All Democratic Cooperation1,6890.300000
Basotho Batho Democratic Party1,2850.23000–1
Hamore Democratic Party1,2650.22000New
Baena1,2590.22000New
Lekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo1,0080.180000
Community Freedom Movement9410.17000New
Progressive Democrats7510.13000New
Basotho African National Congress5820.10000New
Lesotho Workers' Party5770.10000–1
Tsebe Social Democrats5310.09000New
African Unity Movement3900.070000
White Horse Party1740.030000
Independents5,6510.99000
Total569,623100.0080401200
Valid votes569,62398.66
Invalid/blank votes7,7541.34
Total votes577,377100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,209,19247.75
Source: , Election Passport

By district Edit

District DC ABC LCD BNP Others
Butha-Buthe District 33.14 41.85 9.09 2.23 13.69
Leribe District 29.28 39.19 17.54 4.74 9.25
Berea District 28.47 50.10 9.15 5.25 7.03
Maseru District 35.01 49.72 4.75 4.55 6.97
Mafeteng District 41.44 30.80 14.78 3.50 9.48
Mohale's Hoek District 54.28 27.06 7.21 3.76 7.69
Quthing District 51.34 10.65 11.90 21.04 5.07
Qacha's Nek District 80.90 5.29 4.46 6.96 2.39
Thaba-Tseka District 44.09 22.38 9.32 6.37 18.01
Mokhotlong District 39.19 32.08 11.28 7.71 9.74

References Edit

  1. ^ "Lesotho votes in elections hoped to resolve tensions". Deutsche Welle. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Statement by SADC EOM" (PDF). Maseru: Southern African Development Community. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Dissolution of the Parliament" (PDF) (Press release). Office of Government Secretary. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
  4. ^ . Independent Electoral Commission. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ^ . News24. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b . Reuters. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Will Lesotho election be peaceful?". BBC News. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  8. ^ Jordan, Michael (13 February 2015). "Climate of uncertainty and fear haunts upcoming Lesotho poll". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  9. ^ Lesotho parliament to reconvene in bid to end crisis Business Day Live, 17 October 2014
  10. ^ Lesotho Parliament Set to Open on Friday Voice of America, 16 October 2014
  11. ^ Scott Rosenberg; Richard F. Weisfelder (13 June 2013). Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7982-9.
  12. ^ Electoral system IPU
  13. ^ Lesotho PM Thabane to Seek Re-Election Next Year Voice of America, 6 October 2014
  14. ^ "Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Parliamentary Elections in Lesotho". United Nations. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.

External links Edit

    2015, lesotho, general, election, general, elections, were, held, lesotho, february, 2015, seats, national, assembly, lower, house, parliament, lesotho, more, than, years, ahead, schedule, 2014, political, crisis, following, mediation, facilitated, southern, a. General elections were held in Lesotho on 28 February 2015 for all 120 seats of the National Assembly the lower house of the Parliament of Lesotho more than two years ahead of schedule due to the 2014 political crisis 1 Following mediation facilitated by the Southern African Development Community SADC 2 King Letsie III on the advice of the incumbent Prime Minister Tom Thabane dissolved the Eighth Parliament and called a snap election 3 2015 Lesotho general election 2012 28 February 2015 2017 All 120 seats in the National Assembly61 seats needed for a majorityParty Leader Seats DC Pakalitha Mosisili 38 37 47 1ABC Tom Thabane 37 75 46 16LCD Mothetjoa Metsing 9 91 12 14BNP Thesele Maseribane 5 53 7 2PFD 1 73 2 1RCL 1 18 2 NewNIP Kimetso Mathaba 0 95 1 1MFP 0 60 1 0BCP 0 48 1 0LPC Kelebone Maope 0 34 1 0Prime Minister before Prime Minister after electionTom ThabaneABC Pakalitha MosisiliDCLesotho uses the mixed member proportional representation voting system More than 1 2 million voters had been registered by the Independent Electoral Commission 4 The army was confined to the barracks on the election day 5 The opposition Democratic Congress managed to form a coalition government as no party achieved an outright majority 6 Voter turnout was 48 Contents 1 Background 2 Electoral system 3 Campaign 4 Results 4 1 By district 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditMain article 2014 Lesotho political crisis After the 2012 election Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili s Democratic Congress failed to attain a majority and thus a coalition government was formed among the three opposition parties All Basotho Convention ABC Lesotho Congress for Democracy LCD and the Basotho National Party BCP The government was led by ABC s Tom Thabane who served as the new Prime Minister whilst the leader of LCD Mothetjoa Metsing was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister 7 Following political tensions and the suspension of the National Assembly over the controversial change of the head of the army from Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli to Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao an attempted coup d etat citation needed forced Prime Minister Tom Thabane to flee the country He then returned under cover of South African and Namibian police who guarded him around the clock Under the auspices of the SADC mediation led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa resulted in a call for an early election The national elections took place on 28 February 8 Thabane was backed by the national police while his deputy Mothetjoa Metsing was backed by the army which refused to recognise the change in army leadership On 17 October the National Assembly reconvened in a bid to avert the political crisis with Thabane s advisor Tumisang Mosotho saying It s a milestone We want to hope this is the first step in the right direction in liberating our country from the danger that has surrounded us these past few months 9 Senate Chief Whip Khoabane Theko said This is what we can call maybe the beginning of the process that takes us to the elections because we are going to have a budget and maybe deliberate other laws ahead of our elections from here on 10 Electoral system EditThe 120 members of the National Assembly are elected in two groups 80 are elected in single member constituencies by first past the post voting with 40 elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency Voters cast one vote 11 and the 40 proportional seats are allocated in a compensatory system in order to reflect the number of votes received by each party making it a variant of the mixed member proportional electoral system 12 Campaign EditThabane said that he would run again seeking a new mandate after signing the Maseru Facilitation Declaration 13 Results EditElection observer missions were deployed to the kingdom from the African Union the Commonwealth of Nations and SADC and were led by former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga former Botswana President Festus Mogae and South African International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane respectively 2 UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon congratulated the citizens for conducting a peaceful election 14 The SADC Election Observer Mission concluded that the elections were peaceful transparent credible free and fair 2 The Democratic Congress formed a coalition government with the Lesotho Congress for Democracy and five other smaller parties as no party achieved an outright majority Pakalitha Mosisili took over as Prime Minister whilst incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing retained his position 6 nbsp PartyVotes SeatsConstituencyPRTotal Democratic Congress218 57338 37371047 1All Basotho Convention215 02237 7540646 16Lesotho Congress for Democracy56 4679 9121012 14Basotho National Party31 5085 53167 2Popular Front for Democracy9 8291 73022 1Reformed Congress of Lesotho6 7311 18022NewNational Independent Party5 4040 95011 1Marematlou Freedom Party3 4130 600110Basutoland Congress Party2 7210 480110Lesotho People s Congress1 9510 340110Basotho Democratic National Party1 9010 33000 1All Democratic Cooperation1 6890 300000Basotho Batho Democratic Party1 2850 23000 1Hamore Democratic Party1 2650 22000NewBaena1 2590 22000NewLekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo1 0080 180000Community Freedom Movement9410 17000NewProgressive Democrats7510 13000NewBasotho African National Congress5820 10000NewLesotho Workers Party5770 10000 1Tsebe Social Democrats5310 09000NewAfrican Unity Movement3900 070000White Horse Party1740 030000Independents5 6510 990 00Total569 623100 0080401200Valid votes569 62398 66Invalid blank votes7 7541 34Total votes577 377100 00Registered voters turnout1 209 19247 75Source IEC Lesotho Election PassportBy district Edit District DC ABC LCD BNP OthersButha Buthe District 33 14 41 85 9 09 2 23 13 69Leribe District 29 28 39 19 17 54 4 74 9 25Berea District 28 47 50 10 9 15 5 25 7 03Maseru District 35 01 49 72 4 75 4 55 6 97Mafeteng District 41 44 30 80 14 78 3 50 9 48Mohale s Hoek District 54 28 27 06 7 21 3 76 7 69Quthing District 51 34 10 65 11 90 21 04 5 07Qacha s Nek District 80 90 5 29 4 46 6 96 2 39Thaba Tseka District 44 09 22 38 9 32 6 37 18 01Mokhotlong District 39 19 32 08 11 28 7 71 9 74References Edit Lesotho votes in elections hoped to resolve tensions Deutsche Welle 28 February 2015 Retrieved 2 March 2015 a b c Statement by SADC EOM PDF Maseru Southern African Development Community 2 March 2015 Retrieved 2 March 2015 Dissolution of the Parliament PDF Press release Office of Government Secretary 4 December 2014 Retrieved 2015 03 02 Health of the Election Voters Register Independent Electoral Commission 10 February 2015 Archived from the original on 27 February 2015 Retrieved 27 February 2015 Army confined to barracks as Lesotho votes News24 27 February 2015 Archived from the original on 4 March 2015 Retrieved 3 March 2015 a b Lesotho s opposition forms coalition after tight election Reuters 4 March 2015 Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 4 March 2015 Will Lesotho election be peaceful BBC News 27 February 2015 Retrieved 2 March 2015 Jordan Michael 13 February 2015 Climate of uncertainty and fear haunts upcoming Lesotho poll Mail amp Guardian Retrieved 1 March 2015 Lesotho parliament to reconvene in bid to end crisis Business Day Live 17 October 2014 Lesotho Parliament Set to Open on Friday Voice of America 16 October 2014 Scott Rosenberg Richard F Weisfelder 13 June 2013 Historical Dictionary of Lesotho Scarecrow Press pp 146 ISBN 978 0 8108 7982 9 Electoral system IPU Lesotho PM Thabane to Seek Re Election Next Year Voice of America 6 October 2014 Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary General on the Parliamentary Elections in Lesotho United Nations 1 March 2015 Retrieved 2 March 2015 External links EditIEC Lesotho Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2015 Lesotho general election amp oldid 1134248084, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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