1997 Chadian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Chad on 5 January 1997, with a second round on 23 February. They were the first multi-party elections since independence in 1960 and resulted in a victory for the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), which won 65 of the 124 seats in the National Assembly. However, the elections were marred by electoral fraud widespread vote rigging, and local irregularities marred these elections, as the 1996 presidential elections. Voter turnout was 45.6% in the first round and 45.3% in the second.[1]

Electoral system

The elections were held using the two round system. Candidates had to win a majority of the vote in the first round to be elected. In constituencies where no candidate received a majority, a second round was held.

Campaign

A total of 30 parties contested the elections, putting forward 656 candidates.[2]

Results

Party	First round		Second round		Seats
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Patriotic Salvation Movement	504,045	40.0	262,060	34.4	65
Union for Renewal and Democracy	165,639	13.1	214,548	28.2	29
Rally for Democracy and Progress	84,372	6.7	13,140	1.7	3
National Union for Democracy and Renewal	76,156	6.0	63,549	8.3	15
Federation, Action for the Republic	50,627	4.0	32,274	4.2	1
Union for Democracy and Republic	48,948	3.9	2,419	0.3	4
Party for Liberty and Development	33,344	2.6	–	–	3
UCD	25,603	2.0	18,764	2.5	0
Movement for Democracy and Socialism in Chad	21,874	1.7	25,764	3.4	0
Viva-National Rally for Democracy and Progress	20,630	1.6	18,345	2.4	0
National Action for Development	20,572	1.6	14,732	1.9	2
National Convention for Social Democracy	19,899	1.6	33,574	4.4	1
Convention for Democracy	15,226	1.2	–	–	0
Convention of Social-Democratic Chadians	15,223	1.2	–	–	0
Party for Unity and National Reconstruction	14,909	1.8	1,731	0.2	0
PLUS	14,488	1.1	–	–	0
National Union	14,274	1.1	17,133	2.2	0
African Party for Progress and Social Justice	12,875	1.0	–	–	0
National Democratic Rally of Chad	9,380	0.7	–	–	0
National Union for Democracy and Progress	8,847	0.7	–	–	0
Social Movement for Democracy in Chad	8,611	0.7	–	–	0
Union of Democratic Forces	8,252	0.6	–	–	0
Movement for Democracy in Chad	7,026	0.6	–	–	0
National Party of Democratic Renewal	6,355	0.5	–	–	0
Rally for Progress and Social Justice	6,282	0.5	–	–	0
National Union for the Renewal of Chad	6,242	0.5	–	–	0
RNDA	5,722	0.4	–	–	0
Democratic Union for the Progress of Chad	5,186	1.2	–	–	0
Action for Renewal of Chad	4,666	0.4	–	–	0
Chadian Democratic Union	4,324	1.2	–	–	0
Chadian People's Rally	3,891	0.3	–	–	0
Rally of Nationalist Chadians	2,516	0.2	–	–	0
National Movement of Democratic Renovators	2,516	0.2	–	–	0
PUNDTT	2,146	0.2	–	–	0
Rally for the Republic – Lingui	2,096	0.2	18,389	2.4	0
Action for Unity and Socialism	1,915	0.1	19,878	2.6	2
Rally of Democratic Forces in Chad	1,502	0.1	–	–	0
Social-Democratic Party of Chad	1,417	0.1	5,595	0.7	0
Democratic Rally of Chad	1,172	0.1	–	–	0
Republican Front	678	0.1	–	–	0
Movement for Unity and Democracy in Chad	663	1.2	–	–	0
Democratic Party of Chad	453	0.0	–	–	0
National Union for Democracy and Development	380	0.0	–	–	0
Committee of National Revival for Peace and Democracy	354	0.0	–	–	0
Invalid/blank votes	106,391	–	25,378	–	–
Total	1,481,628	100	784,636	100	125
Registered voters/turnout	3,248,333	45.6	1,733,931	45.5	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

The newly elected National Assembly was opened on 4 April. A government was formed with Nassour Guelendouksia Ouaido as Prime Minister on 21 May.[2]

References

1. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibault, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook p233 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
2. Elections held in 1997 IPU