National Assembly (Lesotho)

The National Assembly ( National Assembly) is the lower house in the bicameral system of Lesotho.

In the National Assembly of Lesotho 120 members are elected for five years. 80 seats are allocated in direct elections in 80 constituencies, 40 by proportional representation on lists. In this case, those parties will be considered in the allocation of the 80 directly elected seats - based on the sum 120 - have received disproportionately many seats. The lists are assembled according to the "Zebra " system of alternating men and women.

The National Assembly is located in the capital, Maseru. Parliament Speaker is Sephiri Enoch Motanyane the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).

History

The Basutoland National Council ( BNC), the representation of the Basotho, was replaced shortly before the independence of Lesotho in 1966 by a bicameral system of the Senate and National Assembly. The National Assembly is the sole legislative parliament. The party or coalition with the majority of seats in parliament determines the prime minister. The Prime Minister can only be removed by a vote of no confidence.

In the elections in 1965 there were 60 constituencies, which were awarded by majority vote. In 1970 there were still 60 constituencies, the election was annulled, however, and the Constitution by Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan overridden. ( " Interim National Assembly " about ) founded, which was equipped with low powers 1974, the Interim National Assembly was. In 1985 elections were called, which were boycotted by the opposition parties, so that the Basotho National Party won all 60 seats. In 1986, the parliament was dissolved with the takeover by the military under Justin Lekhanya. In 1990 by the military government to the National Constituent Assembly ( "National Constituent Assembly ") was again set up a sham parliament.

With the return to democracy in 1993, the National Assembly was re-established with 65 members directly elected. All seats won the Basotho Congress Party, so there was no parliamentary opposition. At the 1998 election the number of deputies was increased to 80, but there was only one opposition parliamentarians, whereupon there was unrest. Therefore came from the 2002 election, a new system for supporting that 80 provided for by majority vote and 40 forgiving about proportional representation to mandates. As a result, the number of represented in the National Assembly parties greatly increased. It came to the establishment or acquisition of vassals parties to receive, in addition direct mandates further list mandates (Lesotho Workers' Party, National Independence Party ).

The last elections were held on 26 May 2012. After the elections, there was a coalition government for the first time. For the first time all the major parties received seats in proportion suffrage.