Lesotho general election, 2012

The parliamentary elections in Lesotho in 2012 took place in the Kingdom of Lesotho on 26 May 2012. Was elected the National Assembly, which chooses the Prime Minister and for the government.

Starting position

Since 1998 Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili had held the office of Prime Minister. He belonged to the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), which he himself had founded as a spin-off of the Basotho Congress Party ( BCP). In February 2012, shortly before the regular intervals held parliamentary elections, he changed and numerous LCD Member of the newly formed Democratic Congress (DC). Thus were three prospective parties to the election: in addition to the LCD ( under the former Minister Mothetjoa Metsing ) and the DC under the All Basotho Convention Mosisili under Tom Thabane, also a spin-off from the LCD. Total came to 15 parties, including the former government parties BCP and Basotho National Party ( BNP ) and the left- Popular Front for Democracy (PFD ) that the royal house related Marematlou Freedom Party ( MFP) and the LCD near National Independent Party (NIP ), which had become the second largest party in the last election.

There are 80 direct candidates 1998 list 40 candidates will be elected for a suffrage amendment, the parties belong to the direct mandates - are represented disproportionately - calculated on the number of 120 MPs. The distribution of seats after the 2007 elections was as follows: LCD 62, ABC / Lesotho Workers' Party ( LWP ) 27, NIP 21, BNP 3, other parties: 7 seats.

Prior clashes were feared. The retired South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is actually no longer manifests itself publicly on political issues, the population of Lesotho asked for a peaceful manner.

Expiration

The choice was between candidates in the 80 constituencies and politicians on electoral lists for the remaining 40 seats to be awarded. The even-numbered positions on all lists were reserved for women. The election took place on 26 May 2012 ( Saturday ) 7-17 clock local time. The counting of the constituencies was until Tuesday, the allocation of list seats late Tuesday.

The conduct of the elections was observed by Commissions of SADC, AU, Commonwealth and EISA, including the former head of state Bakili Muluzi (Malawi ), Rupiah Banda (Zambia ) and Yakubu Gowon ( Nigeria). The procedure was described in a joint statement of the Commissions as peaceful.

Result

The constituency MPs are from four parties: 41 from DC, 26 from the ABC, 12 from LDC and a deputy of the PFD. This Mosilisi the second highest victory of all direct candidates in his constituency in the district Qacha 's Nek. The strongholds of the ABC are the districts of Maseru and Berea, the LCD won the most constituencies in Leribe district. All seats in the south and east went to the DC. About party lists following Members were elected: DC 7, ABC 4, LCD 14, BNP 5, PFD and NIP 2 each, Basotho Batho Democratic Party ( BBDP ), BCP, Basotho Democratic National Party ( BDNP ) Lesotho People's Congress ( LPC), LWP and MFP per 1

Thus, the DC 48 MPs ABC 30, the LCD 26, BNP 5, the PFD 3, NIP 2 and six other parties one of its Members. Thus, it comes first parliament in the history of Lesotho to a relationship.

564 451 persons ( 50.04% of eligible voters ) participated in the election.

Follow

30 May 2012 Prime Minister Mosisili resigned from his post. On June 8, 2012 put Tom Thabane as the new Prime Minister was sworn in on. He now manages a coalition of ABC, LCD and BNP, which is supported by the PFD, MFP and other small parties. This is the first time in the history of Lesotho managed a peaceful handover of power due to parliamentary elections.

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