Burundi Election: Ruling Party Wins All Seats | Democracy Concerns
Burundi Ruling Party Wins Contested Election Amid rigging Claims
Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party has secured a clean sweep in the latest parliamentary election, claiming all 100 seats. the results, however, have been met with strong condemnation from opposition parties, who allege widespread rigging and a death knell for democracy in the central African nation.
Prosper Ntahorwamiye, head of the electoral commission, announced the provisional results, stating the CNDD-FDD garnered over 96% of votes across all provinces. Ntahorwamiye acknowledged “some minor irregularities” but downplayed their importance.
Olivier Nkurunziza, leader of the Uprona party, which came in second with just over 1% of the vote, denounced the election as rigged. “We have killed democracy,” Nkurunziza told AFP.
The National Congress for Liberty (CNL), a major opposition force, secured only 0.6% of the vote, placing them third. The election results and the integrity of the electoral process are under scrutiny.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) echoed these concerns, stating the outcome demonstrates how democracy has been “hollowed out” in Burundi. The group added that the CNDD-FDD, in power since 2005, has actively worked to dismantle any meaningful opposition, notably from the CNL.
Critics point to limited freedom of expression and a prolonged campaign of intimidation and harassment leading up to the polls.HRW reported that election observers from the Catholic Church were turned away from some polling centers.
The African Union has faced criticism for praising the ”climate of freedom and openness” during the elections, which it deemed “peaceful.”
Following the announcement of the provisional results, there were few signs of festivity in Bujumbura, the capital city.
The electoral commission will submit the results to the Constitutional Court, which is expected to certify them and release the final results by June 20.
Ntahorwamiye said there were “some minor irregularities – shortcomings that came about which have been resolved – as as you know,nothing is fully perfect”.
To comply with the Arusha Accords, which ended the Burundian civil war, the ethnic composition of parliament must reflect the national proportions of hutus, Tutsis, and Twa people.
The electoral commission announced the creation of 11 additional seats to address an imbalance, bringing the total number of members of parliament to 111.
What’s next
The Constitutional Court’s certification of the election results is the next step. The focus will then shift to how the CNDD-FDD uses its strengthened hold on power and how the opposition navigates the political landscape in burundi.