AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
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Elections in the Central African Republic
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: François Bozizé [since 15 March 2003; seized power in 2003 military coup, elected 2005] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Elie Doté [since 13 June 2005] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral] (105 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the two round (run-off) system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1962 Restricted Democratic Practice
1962-1966 One Party State (MESAN)
1966-1976 Military Regime & One Party State (MESAN)
1976-1979 One Party State (MESAN)
1979-1980 Transitional Period
1980-1981 One Party State (UDC)
1981         Restricted Democratic Practice
1981-1987 Military Regime
1987-1991 One Party State (RDC)
1991-1993 Multiparty Transition
1993-2003 Democracy
2003-2005 Military Regime
2005-        Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 5, Civil Liberties - 4, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2010
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2010
Political Parties: ADP - Alliance for Democracy and Progress, CN - National Convention, FC - Civic Forum (conservative), FODEM - Democratic Forum for Modernity, FPO - Oubanguian Patriotic Front, FPP - Patriotic Front for Progress (social-democratic), LÖNDÖ - Löndö Association, MDD - Movement for Democracy and Development (authoritarian), MDREC - Democratic Movement for the Renaissance and Evolution of Central Africa, MEDAC - Movement for the Democratic Evolution of Central Africa, MESAN - Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa, MLPC - Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (christian-democratic), PLD - Liberal Democratic Party (liberal), PRC - Central African Republican Party, PRP - Republican Progress Party, PSD - Social Democratic Party (conservative), PUN - National Unity Party, RDC - Central African Democratic Rally (authoritarian), UDC - Central African Democratic Union, UPR - People's Union for the Republic, URD - Union for Renewal and Democracy.
Coalitions: Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD) [Contested the 1993 Presidential Election] A coalition of the Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP) and eight smaller political parties that supported presidential candidate Abel Goumba; Union of Forces for Peace (UFAP) [Contested the 1998 National Assembly Election] Member parties with representation in the National Assembly include the Central African Democratic Rally (RDC), Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP), Social Democratic Party (PSD), Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), National Unity Party (PUN), Democratic Forum for Modernity (FODEM), Civic Forum (FC), and People's Union for the Republic (UPR); Presidential Movement (MP) (sometimes known as the Union of Forces of Renewal - UFR) [Contested the 1998 National Assembly Election] Member parties represented in the National Assembly include the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) and Liberal Democratic Party (PLD); National Convergence "Kwa Na Kwa" (KNK) [Contested the 2005 Presidential & National Assembly Elections] A grouping of small political parties and independents supportive of François Bozizé.
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Multiparty: 1981, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2005
--Single Party: 1964
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1959, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2005
--Single Party: 1964, 1987
Referenda: 1981, 1986, 1994, 2004
 
 
5 & 29 April 1959 Legislative Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (60)

Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN)

58

Vacant

02

The two vacant seats and a third seat won by the MESAN party, but declared illegal by Constitutional Council were filled in a by-election held on 25 September 1960. All three seats were won by the MESAN party.
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN)

05 January 1964 Presidential Election (David Dacko re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

732,139

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

686,829 (93.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,007

Total Valid Votes

682,822

MESAN

682,607 (99.97%)

15 March 1964 National Assembly Election (60 Seats)

Registered Voters

728,981

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

613,600 (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  10,636

Total Valid Votes

602,964

MESAN

596,687 (98.96%)

Note: On 14 August 1960, the National Assembly elected David Dacko president of the Central African Republic.
 
01 February 1981 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Unicameral Legislature, Multiparty System

Registered Voters

 928,800

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

859,447 (92.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    9,463

Total Valid Votes

 849,984

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

98.52%

"No" Votes

01.48%

 
15 March 1981 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 731,946

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

David Dacko (UDC)

374,027

51.10%

Ange-Félix Patassé (MLPC)

283,739

38.77%

François Pehoua

39,661

5.42%

Henri Maïdou (PRP)

24,007

3.28%

Abel Goumba (FPO)

10,512

1.44%

 
21 November 1986 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Sole Legal Party, General André Kolingba automatically becomes president for six years without any limits to re-election.

Registered Voters

 871,395

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

763,451 (87.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    8,644 

Total Valid Votes

 754,807

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

696,055

92.22%

"No" Votes

58,752

07.78%

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Central African Democratic Rally (RDC)

31 July 1987 National Assembly Election (52 Seats)

 
25 October 1992 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

The Supreme Court annulled the results owing to widespread irregularities.
 
25 October 1992 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

The Supreme Court annulled the results owing to widespread irregularities.
 
August/September 1993 Presidential Election
First Round (22 August 1993)

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Second Round (19 September 1993)

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 679,232

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Ange Félix Patassé (MLPC)

302,004

37.3%

363,297

53.49%

Abel Goumba (FPP) [CFD]

175,467

21.7%

315,935

46.51%

David Dacko (MDD)

162,721

20.1%

-

-

André Kolingba (RDC)

97,942

12.1%

-

-

Enoch Derant-Lakoué (PSD)

19,368

2.4%

-

-

Timothée Malendoma (FC)

16,400

2.0%

-

-

François Bozizé

12,159

1.5%

-

-

Jeanne-Marie Ruth Rolland (PRC)

8,068

1.0%

-

-

 
22 August & 19 September 1993 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (85)

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC)

34

Central African Democratic Rally (RDC)

13

Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP)

07

Liberal Democratic Party (PLD)

07

Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP)

06

Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD)

06

National Convention (CN)

03

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

03

Democratic Movement for the Renaissance and Evolution of Central Africa (MDREC)

01

Central African Republican Party (PRC)

01

Civic Forum (FC)

01

Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN)

01

Independents

02

 
28 December 1994 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Unicameral Legislature, Prime Minister who is accountable to both President and Legislature, Decentralization

Registered Voters

 1,247,290

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   561,084 (45.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       4,340 

Total Valid Votes

    556,744 

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

460,407

82.70%

"No" Votes

96,337

17.30%

 
22 November & 13 December 1998 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 1,403,952

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Seats (109)

Union of Forces for Peace [UFAP]

55

 

Central African Democratic Rally (RDC)

  

20

Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD)

08

Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP)

07

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

06

Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP)

05

National Unity Party (PUN)

03

Democratic Forum for Modernity (FODEM)

02

Civic Forum (FC)

01

People's Union for the Republic (UPR)

01

Independents

02

Presidential Movement [MP]

54

 

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC)

  

47

Liberal Democratic Party (PLD)

02

Independents

05

 
19 September 1999 Presidential Election 

Registered Voters

 1,709,086

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,010,744 (59.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       7,440

Total Valid Votes

 1,003,304 

Candidate (Party)

% of Votes

Ange-Félix Patassé (MLPC)

51.63%

André Kolingba (RDC)

19.38%

David Dacko (MDD)

11.15%

Abel Goumba (FPP)

6.06%

Henri Pouzère

4.19%

Jean-Paul Ngoupandé (PUN)

3.14%

Enoch Derant-Lakoué (PSD)

1.33%

Charles Massi (FODEM)

1.31%

Fidèle Gouandjika

0.94%

Joseph Abossolo

0.86%

 
05 December 2004 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Semi-Presidential System, Presidential term of 5-years renewable once

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (77.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 888,374

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

811,739

91.37%

"No" Votes

76,635

08.63%

 
March/May 2005 Presidential Election
First Round (13 March 2005)

Registered Voters

 1,302,930

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   946,616 (72.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     57,022 

Total Valid Votes

    889,594 
Second Round (08 May 2005)

Registered Voters

 1,452,211

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   977,730 (67.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     32,111

Total Valid Votes

    945,619

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

François Bozizé* [KNK]

382,241

42.97%

610,903

64.60%

Martin Ziguélé (MLPC)

209,357

23.53%

334,716

35.40%

André Kolingba (RDC)

145,495

16.36%

-

-

Jean-Paul Ngoupandé (PUN)

45,182

5.08%

-

-

Charles Massi (FODEM)

28,618

3.22%

-

-

Abel Goumba (FPP)

22,297

2.51%

-

-

Henri Pouzère

18,647

2.10%

-

-

Josué Binoua

13,559

1.52%

-

-

Jean-Jacques Démafouth

11,279

1.27%

-

-

Auguste Boukanga (URD)

7,085

0.80%

-

-

Olivier Gabirault (ADP)

5,834

0.66%

-

-

*François Bozizé ran as an independent candidate, but he was supported by the National Convergence "Kwa na Kwa" (KNK) coalition.
 
13 March & 08 May 2005 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Seats (105)

National Convergence "Kwa Na Kwa" [KNK]

42

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC)

11

Central African Democratic Rally (RDC)

08

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

04

Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP)

02

Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP)

02

Löndö Association (LÖNDÖ)

01

Independents

34

Invalidated

01