Lesotho general election, 1985

The parliamentary elections in Lesotho in 1985 were scheduled for September 17th and 18th 1985 at the Kingdom of Lesotho. However, they were canceled because only the ruling party, the Basotho National Party ( BNP ) presented candidates. To ensure that all candidates have been a member of the National Assembly.

Starting position

The last elections in 1970 were canceled by the BNP government after it became clear that the opposition Basotho Congress Party ( BCP) won the elections. As a result, the BNP ruled by Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan with a heavy hand. Many opposition activists were killed or went into exile. A coup attempt of 1974 BCP politicians failed. Then, the Lesotho Liberation Army (LLA ) was established as an armed wing of part of the BCP. The government suspended the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly and replaced it with the Interim National Assembly of appointed members. Jonathan felt by foreign donors, the activities of the LLA and infighting within the BNP put under pressure so that he, scheduled elections in July 1985.

The 60 parliamentarians should be determined by majority vote. For opposition candidates, the rule was that they had to deposit each Maloti 1000 ( at that time about the annual salary of a primary school teacher ) that they had lost in case of a defeat, and had to show 500 names of supporters. Due to this high hurdles decided the opposition not to create any candidates.

Expiration

On Nomination Day, the one held in each constituency for the official presentation of the candidates in August 1985, only the BNP candidate participated.

Result

The 60 candidates of the BNP have been officially confirmed as a parliamentarian, without being able to come to a vote.

Follow

The choice could not improve the political situation for the government. Part of the BNP, including the BNP Youth League, more and more communist powers such as North Korea turned to. The apartheid government of South Africa thus strengthened the pressure on Lesotho. On 1 January 1986 the borders were largely sealed off, so that Lesotho was isolated. Between the South African government and officers of the Lesotho Defence Force meetings were held. On 20 January, the military pushed under Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya the government; the South African government lifted the blockade. Jonathan was placed under house arrest and died in April 1987.