Politics of Burkina Faso

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Burkina Faso
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Burkina Faso

President Blaise Compaoré Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest Yonli National Assembly Political parties Elections 2005 presidential 2007 parliamentary Regions Provinces Departments Foreign relations
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Politics of Burkina Faso takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Burkina Faso is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The party system is dominated by the Congress for Democracy and Progress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

1 Political history
2 Executive branch
3 Legislative branch
4 Political parties and elections
5 Political pressure groups
6 Administrative divisions
7 International organization participation
8 International Relationships

[edit] Political history

In 1990, the Popular Front held its first National Congress, which formed a committee to draft a national constitution. The constitution was approved by referendum in 1991. In 1992, Blaise Compaoré was elected president, running unopposed after the opposition boycotted the election because of Compaoré's refusal to accede to demands of the opposition such as a sovereign National Conference to set modalities. The opposition did participate in the following year's legislative elections, in which the ODP/MT won a majority of seats.

The government of the Fourth Republic includes a strong presidency, a prime minister, a Council of Ministers presided over by the president, a two-chamber National Assembly, and the judiciary. The legislature and judiciary are independent but remain susceptible to outside influence.

In 1995, Burkina held its first multiparty municipal elections since independence. With minor exceptions, balloting was considered free and fair by the local human rights organizations which monitored the contest. The president's ODP/MT won over 1,100 of some 1,700 councillor seats being contested.

In February 1996, the ruling ODP/MT merged with several small opposition parties to form the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP). This effectively co-opted much of what little viable opposition to Compaoré existed. The remaining opposition parties regrouped in preparation for 1997 legislative elections and the 1998 presidential election. The 1997 legislative elections, which international observers pronounced to be substantially free, fair, and transparent, resulted in a large CDP majority--101 to 111 seats.

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Blaise Compaoré	CDP	15 October 1987
Prime Minister	Paramanga Ernest Yonli	CDP	7 November 2000

The president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term and may serve unlimited terms. The prime minister is appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature. The constitution of June 2, 1991, established a semi-presidential government with a parliament (Assemblée) which can be dissolved by the President of the Republic, who is elected for a term of 5 years. The year 2000 saw a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from 7 to 5 years, which was enforced during the 2005 elections. Another change according to the amendment would have prevented sitting president Blaise Compaoré from being re-elected. However, notwithstanding a challenge by other presidential candidates, in October 2005, the constitutional council ruled that because Compaoré was already a sitting president in 2000, the amendment would not apply to him until the end of his second term in office, thereby clearing the way for his candidacy in the 2005 election. On November 13 Compaoré was reelected in a landslide due to a divided political opposition.

[edit] Legislative branch

The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 111 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation.

[edit] Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Burkina Faso. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Burkina Faso.

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 13 November 2005 Burkina Faso presidential election results**
Candidates - Nominating parties	Votes	%
Blaise Compaoré - Congress for Democracy and Progress (Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès)	1,660,148	80.35
Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara - Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement (Union pour la Renaissance/Mouvement Sankariste)	100,816	4.88
Laurent Bado - National Rebirth Party (Parti de la Renaissance Nationale)	53,743	2.60
Philippe Ouédraogo - Party for Democracy and Socialism (Parti pour la Démocratie et le Socialisme)	47,146	2.28
Ram Ouédraogo - Rally of the Ecologists of Burkina	42,061	2.04
Ali Lankoandé - Party for Democracy and Progress/Socialist Party (Parti pour la Démocratie et le Progrès/Parti Socialiste)	35,949	1.74
Norbert Tiendrébéogo - Social Forces Front (Front des Forces Sociales)	33,353	1.61
Soumane Touré - African Independence Party (Touré) (Parti Africain de l’Indépendance)	23,266	1.13
Gilbert Bouda - Burkinabé Party for Recasting	21,658	1.05
Pargui Emile Paré - Socialist Alliance	17,998	0.87
Hermann Yaméogo - National Union for the Defense of Democracy	15,685	0.76
Toubé Clément Dakio - Union for Democracy and Development	7,741	0.37
Nayabtigungu Congo Kaboré - Movement for Tolerance and Progress	6,706	0.32
Total (Turnout 57.7 %)	2,066,270	100.0
Invalid votes	196,629
Total votes	2,262,899
Registered Voters	3,924,328

Main article: Burkina Faso presidential elections, 2005

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 5 May 2002 National Assembly of Burkina Faso election results**
Parties	%	Seats
Congress for Democracy and Progress (Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès)	49.5	57
Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally Alliance for Democracy and Federation (Alliance pour la démocratie et la féderation) African Democratic Rally (Rassemblement démocratique africain)	12.7	17
Party for Democracy and Progress/Socialist Party (Parti pour la Démocratie et le Progrès/Parti Socialiste)	7.5	10
Coalition of Democratic Forces (Coalition des Forces Démocratiques)	4.4	5
African Independence Party (Touré) (Parti Africain de l’Indépendance)	3.6	5
National Rebirth Party (Parti de la Renaissance Nationale)	2.7	4
Sankarist Pan-African Convention (Convention Panafricaine Sankariste)	2.6	3
Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement (Union pour la Renaissance/Mouvement Sankariste)	2.4	3
National Convention of Progressive Democrats (Convention Nationale des Démocrates Progressistes)	2.0	2
Party for Democracy and Socialism (Parti pour la Démocratie et le Socialisme)	1.7	2
Alliance for Progress and Freedom (Alliance pour le Progrès et la Liberté)	0.7	1
Patriotic Front for Change (Front Patriotique pour le Changement)	0.5	1
Union of Democrats and Independent Progressives (Union des Démocrates et Progressistes Indépendants)	0.4	1
Total (turnout %)		111

Main article: Burkina Faso parliamentary election, 2002

[edit] Political pressure groups

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities