Elections in Burkina Faso

Elections in Burkina Faso

Political Profile

Political System: Emerging Democracy

President: Blaise Compaoré (CDP) [since 15 October 1987; seized power in 1987 military coup, elected 1991, 1998, 2005, and 2010] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).

Prime Minister: Luc Adolphe Tiao (CDP) [since 18 April 2011] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the consent of the legislature.

National Assembly [unicameral] (111 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies (21 from one national constituency and 90 from 13 regional constituencies - 2 to 10 per region) using the party-list proportional representation system; members serve 5-year terms.

Electoral Authority: National Independent Electoral Commission

Political Situation since Independence

1960-1966 One Party State (UDV-RDA)

1966-1970 Military Regime

1970-1974 Restricted Democratic Practice

1974-1977 Military Regime

1977-1978 Multiparty Transition

1978-1980 Democracy

1980-1991 Military Regime

1991 Multiparty Transition

1991-2002 Restricted Democratic Practice

2002- Emerging Democracy

2011 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 5, Civil Liberties - 3, Status: Partly Free

Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2015

Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2 December 2012

Political Parties: ADDP - Alliance for the Defense of Democracy and Progress, ADF - Alliance for Democracy and Federation (centrist), ADEFA - Alliance for Democracy of Faso, ADF-RDA - Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally (centrist), ADR – Alliance of Revolutionary Democrats, AFC - Alliance of the Forces of Progress, AND-PJS - National Alliance for Development-Party of Social Justice, APL - Alliance for Progress and Liberty, ASDD - Solidarity Action for Democracy and Development, CDL - Convention for Democracy and Liberty, CDP - Congress for Democracy and Progress (far-left), CDS - Convergence for Social Democracy, CFD - Coalition of Democratic Forces, CFD - Convention for Federation and Democracy, CFD-B - Convention of the Democratic Forces of Burkina, CNDP - National Convention of Progressive Democrats, CNPP-PSD - National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic Party, CNR-MS - National Council for Renaissance-Sankarist Movement, CPS - Sankarist Pan-African Convention (left-wing), FASO METBA - Builders of Faso, FDR - Republican Democratic Front, FDS - Sankarist Democratic Front, FFS - Social Forces Front, FNS - National Salvation Front, FPC-Yelemani - Patriotic Front for Change-Yelemani, FR-RDA - Refusers' Front of the African Democratic Rally, GDP - Group of Patriotic Democrats, LCB - Citizens League of Builders, L'Espoir - Convergence of Hope, MDP - Movement of Progressive Democrats, MDR - Movement for Democracy and Rebirth, MDS - Movement for Social Democracy, MDV - Voltaic Democratic Movement, MNL - National Liberation Movement (left-wing), MPD - People's Movement for Democracy, MPJD - Patriotic Movement of Young Democrats, MPS-PF - People’s Movement for Socialism-Federal Party, MTP - Movement for Tolerance and Progress, NDS - New Social Democracy, ODDN - Pro-Democratic Organization for the Defense of Nature, ODP-MT - Organization for People's Democracy-Labor Movement, ODT - Organization for Democracy and Labor, PAI - African Independence Party, PAREN - Party for National Rebirth, PARIS - Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity, PBR - Burkinabe Party for Recasting, PCP-Faso - Party for Concord and Progress of Faso, PDP [PDP-PS] - Party for Democracy and Progress/Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party (left-wing, social-democratic), PDS - Party for Democracy and Socialism, PEDB - Ecological Party for the Development of Burkina, PFID - Party of Independent Forces for Development, PLB - Burkinabe Liberal Party, PNA - New Alliance Party, PNR-JV - National Republican Party-Right Path, PPA - African Progressive Party, PPP - Party of Progressive Patriots, PPRN - Party of Progress for National Renewal, PRA - African Regroupment Party, PSB - Burkinabe Socialist Party, PUND - Party for National Unity and Development, RDA - African Democratic Rally (centrist), PSU - Unified Socialist Party, RDB - Rally for the Development of Burkina, RDEB - Rally of the Ecologists of Burkina, RDF - Rally of Democrats for Faso, RDM - Democratic Awakening of the Masses, RFI-PJB - Rally of Independent Forces-Party of the Youth of Burkina, RPC - Citizen's Popular Rally, RPP-Gwasigi - Rally for Popular Prosperity-Gwasigi, UDD - Union for Democracy and Development, UDF - Democratic Union of Faso, UDPI - Union of Democrats and Independent Progressives, UDPS - Union for Democracy and Social Progress, UDV-RDA - Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally, UFDP - Union of Democratic and Progressive Forces, UFP - Union of Progressive Forces, UFR - Union of Forces for Renewal, UNDD - National Union for the Defense of Democracy, UNDP - National Union for Democracy and Progress, UNI - National Union of Independents, UNIR-MS - Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Movement (left-wing), UNIR-MS - Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Party (left-wing), UPD - Union of Patriots for Development, UPR - Union for the Republic, UPS - Union of Sankarist Parties, UPS-MP - Pan-African Sankarist Union-Progressive Movement, UPV - Voltaic Progressive Union (left-wing), URDB Union for the Democratic Renaissance of Burkina, USB - Social Union of Burkina, USD - Union of Social Democrats, USDI - Union of Independent Social Democrats, UVDB - Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina, VB - The Greens of Burkina.

Coalitions: Burkind lom [Integrity] Coalition [Supported Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara in the 2010 Presidential Election] Member parties include the Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Party (UNIR-PS), Alliance for Democracy of Faso (ADEFA), Alliance of Revolutionary Democrats (ADR), Republican Democratic Front (FDR), Party of Progressive Patriots (PPP), Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), and the Union for the Democratic Renaissance of Burkina (URDB); Coalition for a Progressive Alternative (CAP) [Supported Pargui Emile Paré in the 2010 Presidential Election] Member parties include the People's Movement for Socialism-Federal Party (MPS-FP), Convergence for Social Democracy (CDS), Unified Socialist Party (PSU), and the Patriotic Front for Change-Yelemani (FPC-Yelemani); Popular Front (FP) [Contested the 1992 Assembly of People’s Deputies Election] Led by President Compaoré’s Organization for People's Democracy-Labor Movement (ODP-MT). Other parties included the African Independence Party (PAI), Burkinabe Socialist Party (PSB), Movement of Progressive Democrats (MDP), Movement for Social Democracy (MDS), and Union of Social Democrats (USD); Presidential Movement Alliance (AMP) [Supported Blaise Compaoré in the 2005 Presidential Election] Member parties include the Alliance for the Defense of Democracy and Progress (ADDP), Alliance of the Forces of Progress (AFC), Alliance for Progress and Liberty (APL), Convention for Democracy and Liberty (CDL), Convention for Federation and Democracy (CFD), National Salvation Front (FNS), Movement of Progressive Democrats (MDP), Patriotic Movement of Young Democrats (MPJD), New Social Democracy (NDS), Organization for Democracy and Labor (ODT), Pro-Democratic Organization for the Defense of Nature (ODDN), Ecological Party for the Development of Burkina (PEDB), Burkinabe Liberal Party (PLB), New Alliance Party (PNA), Party of Progress for National Renewal (PPRN), Rally of Independent Forces-Party of the Youth of Burkina (RFI-PJB), Rally for the Development of Burkina (RDB), Democratic Union of Faso (UDF), National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Union for the Republic (UPR), Social Union of Burkina (USB), and the Rally for Popular Prosperity-Gwasigi (RPP-Gwasigi); [Supported Blaise Compaoré in the 2010 Presidential Election] Member parties include the Alliance of the Forces of Progress (AFP), National Alliance for Development-Party of Social Justice (AND-PJS), Alliance for Progress and Liberty (APL), Solidarity Action for Democracy and Development (ASDD), Convention for Democracy and Liberty (CDL), Convention for Federation and Democracy (CFD), National Salvation Front (FNS), Movement of Progressive Democrats (MDP), People's Movement for Democracy (MPD), Patriotic Movement of Young Democrats (MPJD), New Social Democracy (NDS), Organization for Democracy and Labor (ODT), Pro-Democratic Organization for the Defense of Nature (ODDN), Party for Concord and Progress of Faso (PCP-Faso) Ecological Party for the Development of Burkina (PEDB), Burkinabe Liberal Party (PLB), Party of Progress for National Renewal (PPRN), Rally of Independent Forces-Party of the Youth of Burkina (RFI-PJB), Rally for the Development of Burkina (RDB), Rally of Democrats for Faso (RDF), Democratic Awakening of the Masses (RDM), Democratic Union of Faso (UDF), Union of Democratic and Progressive Forces (UFDP), National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Union of Patriots for Development (UPD), Union for the Republic (UPR), Social Union of Burkina (USB), and The Greens of Burkina (VB); Socialist Alliance (AS) [Supported Pargui Emile Paré in the 2005 Presidential Election] Member parties include the People's Movement for Socialism-Federal Party (MPS-PF) and the Unified Socialist Party (PSU).

Election Results

Presidential

--Single Party: 1965

--Multiparty: 1978, 1991, 1998, 2005, 2010

Legislative

--Single Party: 1965

--Multiparty: 1959, 1970, 1978, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007

Constitutional Referendums: 1958, 1959, 1970, 1977, 1991

Municipal: 2006

28 September 1958 Constitutional Referendum

Main Points: Approval of the constitution meant internal autonomy within the "French Community." France agreed to grant independence to any territory that rejected the proposed constitution.

Ballot Question: Do you approve the Constitution proposed by the Government of the Republic?

Registered Voters	1,914,908
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,431,167 (74.7%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	3,829
Total Valid Votes	1,427,338

Results	Number of Votes	% of Votes
"Yes" Votes	1,415,651	99.18%
"No" Votes	11,687	0.82%

15 March 1959 Constitutional Referendum

Main Points: Parliamentary System of Government, unicameral legislature

Registered Voters	1,957,732
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,344,932 (68.7%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	71,753
Total Valid Votes	1,273,179

Results	Number of Votes	% of Votes
"Yes" Votes	1,018,936	80.03%
"No" Votes	254,243	19.97%

19 April 1959 Territorial Assembly Election*

Registered Voters	1,924,765
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	903,290 (46.9%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	8,766
Total Valid Votes	894,524

Party	Number of Votes	% of Votes	Number of Seats (75)
African Democratic Rally (RDA)	502,815	56.21%	64
African Regroupment Party (PRA)	391,709	43.79%	11

*In December 1959, the Territorial Assembly became the National Assembly.

Single Party Elections

Sole Legal Party: Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally (UDV-RDA)

3 October 1965 Presidential Election (Maurice Yaméogo re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters	2,182,425
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,146,790 (98.4%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	309
Total Valid Votes	2,146,481 (99.99%)
Maurice Yaméogo	2,146,481 (100.00%)

7 November 1965 National Assembly Election (75 Seats)

Registered Voters	2,188,241
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,132,418 (97.4%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	468
Total Valid Votes	2,131,950 (99.98%)
UDV-RDA	2,131,950 (100.00%)

Note: Maurice Yaméogo was unanimously elected president by the National Assembly on 8 December 1960.

14 June 1970 Constitutional Referendum

Main Points: Presidential Republic, President can rule by decree and dissolve parliament; The constitution provided that General Sangoulé Lamizana remain President of the Republic for 4 years

Registered Voters	2,351,258
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,817,341 (77.3%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	34,580
Total Valid Votes	1,782,761

Results	Number of Votes	% of Votes
"Yes" Votes	1,757,004	98.56%
"No" Votes	25,757	1.44%

20 December 1970 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters	2,399,468
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,158,259 (48.3%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	44,373
Total Valid Votes	1,113,886

Party	Number of Votes	% of Votes	Number of Seats (57)
Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally (UDV-RDA)	754,506	67.74%	37
African Regroupment Party (PRA)	191,793	17.22%	12
National Liberation Movement (MNL)	121,668	10.92%	6
Independents & Others*	45,919	4.12%	2

*Although the figures include the number of votes received by independents and other political parties, both seats were won by independents.

27 November 1977 Constitutional Referendum

Main Points: Presidential Republic, Maximum of three political parties

Registered Voters	2,759,924
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,972,077 (71.5%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	19,108
Total Valid Votes	1,952,969

Results	Number of Votes	% of Votes
"Yes" Votes	1,927,691	98.71%
"No" Votes	25,278	1.29%

30 April 1978 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters	2,887,550
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,161,824 (40.2%)

Party		Number of Seats (57)
Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally (UDV-RDA)		28
National Union for the Defence of Democracy (UNDD)		13
Voltaic Progressive Union (UPV)		9
African Regroupment Party (PRA)		6
National Union of Independents (UNI)		1

May 1978 Presidential Election

First Round (14 May 1978)

Registered Voters	2,924,785
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,028,653 (35.2%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	19,695
Total Valid Votes	1,008,958

Second Round (28 May 1978)

Registered Voters	2,947,527
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,283,546 (43.5%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	18,868
Total Valid Votes	1,264,678

Candidate (Party)	First Round		Second Round
Candidate (Party)	Number of Votes	% of Votes	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Sangoulé Lamizana*	425,302	42.15%	711,722	56.28%
Macaire Ouédraogo (UNDD)	254,465	25.22%	552,956	43.72%
Joseph Ouédraogo (FR-RDA)	167,160	16.57%	-	-
Joseph Ki-Zerbo (UPV)	162,031	16.06%	-	-

*Sangoulé Lamizana ran as an independent candidate, but received the support of three political parties: the African Regroupment Party (PRA), African Democratic Rally (RDA), and the National Union of Independents (UNI).

2 June 1991 Constitutional Referendum

Main Points: Presidential Republic, bicameral legislature, presidential may serve two 7-year terms

Registered Voters	3,403,451
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,660,321 (48.8%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	39,529
Total Valid Votes	1,620,792

Results	Number of Votes	% of Votes
"Yes" Votes	1,504,653	92.83%
"No" Votes	116,139	6.17%

1 December 1991 Presidential Election*/**

Registered Voters	3,179,053
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	868,038 (27.3%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	117,892
Total Valid Votes	750,146

Candidate (Party)	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Blaise Compaoré (ODP-MT)	750,146	100.00%

*The opposition boycotted the election.

**Blaise Compaoré received 100.00% of the valid votes cast and 86.42% of the total votes cast in the election.

24 May 1992 Assembly of People’s Deputies Election

Registered Voters	3,727,843
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,260,107 (33.8%)

Party/[Coalition]		Number of Seats (107)
Popular Front [FP]		84
	Organization for People's Democracy-Labor Movement (ODP-MT)		78
	African Independence Party (PAI)		2
	Burkinabe Socialist Party (PSB)		1
	Movement of Progressive Democrats (MDP)		1
	Movement for Social Democracy (MDS)		1
	Union of Social Democrats (USD)		1
Opposition		23
	National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic Party (CNPP-PSD)		12
	African Democratic Rally (RDA)		6
	Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF)		4
	Union of Independent Social Democrats (USDI)		1

11 May 1997 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters	4,985,352
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,220,161 (44.5%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	108,183
Total Valid Votes	2,111,978

Party	Number of Votes	% of Votes	Number of Seats (111)*
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP)	1,449,082	68.61%	101
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP)	213,620	10.11%	6
Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF)	156,325	7.40%	2
African Democratic Rally (RDA)	136,006	6.44%	2
Others	156,945	7.43%	-

*After the election in May, fresh balloting was held on 19 June 1997 in four constituencies where the Supreme Court had dismissed earlier results because of irregularities. The CDP, which had won 97 seats in May, secured all 4 seats, raising its total to 101.

15 November 1998 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters	4,210,134
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,361,294 (56.1%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	97,001
Total Valid Votes	2,264,293

Candidate (Party)	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Blaise Compaoré (CDP)	1,981,713	87.52%
Ram Ouédraogo (UVDB)	149,650	6.61%
Fredéric Guima (FR-RDA)	132,930	5.87%

*The election was boycotted by the major opposition parties.

5 May 2002 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters	2,913,219
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,868,645 (64.1%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	144,581
Total Valid Votes	1,724,064

Party	% of Votes	Number of Seats (111)
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP)	49.5%	57
Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA)	12.7%	17
Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party (PDP)	7.5%	10
Coalition of Democratic Forces (CFD)	4.4%	5
African Independence Party (PAI)	3.6%	5
Party for National Rebirth (PAREN)	2.7%	4
Sankarist Pan-African Convention (CPS)	2.6%	3
Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Movement (UNIR-MS)	2.4%	3
National Convention of Progressive Democrats (CNDP)	2.0%	2
Party for Democracy and Socialism (PDS)	1.7%	2
Alliance for Progress and Liberty (APL)	0.7%	1
Patriotic Front for Change-Yelemani (FPC-Yelemani)	0.5%	1
Union of Democrats and Independent Progressives (UDPI)	0.4%	1

13 November 2005 Presidential Election [Results by Region]

Registered Voters	3,924,328
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,262,899 (57.7%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	196,629
Total Valid Votes	2,066,270

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Blaise Compaoré (CDP) [AMP]*	1,660,148	80.35%
Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara (UNIR-MS)**	100,816	4.88%
Laurent Bado (PAREN)	53,743	2.60%
Philippe Ouédraogo (PDS)**	47,146	2.28%
Ram Ouédraogo (RDEB)	42,061	2.04%
Ali Lankoandé (PDP-PS)	35,949	1.74%
Norbert Michel Tiendrébéogo (FFS)**	33,353	1.61%
Soumane Touré (PAI)	23,266	1.13%
Gilbert Bouda (PBR)	21,658	1.05%
Pargui Emile Paré [AS]	17,998	0.87%
Hermann Yaméogo (UNDD)***	15,685	0.76%
Toubé Clément Dakio (UDD)	7,741	0.37%
Nayabtigungu Congo Kaboré (MTP)	6,706	0.32%

*In addition to being the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party candidate along with the additional support of the 22-party Presidential Movement Alliance (AMP), Blaise Compaoré received the support of two other parties - the Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA) and the Rally of Democrats for Faso (RDF).

**A number of candidates received the support of parties other than their own, although formal coalitions were not created. They are:

-Bénéwendé Sankara - Sankarist Democratic Front (FDS)

-Philippe Ouédraogo - Convergence for Social Democracy (CDS) and the Union of Progressive Forces (UFP)

-Norbert Tiendrébéogo - Convergence of Hope (L'Espoir)

***Hermann Yaméogo withdrew from the election in late October 2005, but his name remained on the ballot and he garnered votes. Prior to his withdrawal, he had received the support of nine political parties in addition to the National Union for the Defense of Democracy (UNDD). They were the National Convention of Progressive Democrats (CNDP), Patriotic Front for Change-Yelemani (FPC-Yelemani), Group of Patriotic Democrats (GDP), Citizens League of Builders (LCB), Movement for Democracy and Rebirth (MDR), Party of Independent Forces for Development (PFID), National Republican Party-Right Path (PNR-JV), Union of Democrats and Independent Progressives (UDPI), and the Union of Forces for Renewal (UFR). It is unclear if these parties chose to endorse other candidates after Yaméogo withdrew.

6 May 2007 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters	4,296,982
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	2,437,544 (56.7%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	178,281
Total Valid Votes	2,259,263

Party	Number of Seats (111)
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP)	73
Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA)	14
Union for the Republic (UPR)	5
Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Movement (UNIR-MS)	4
Convention of the Democratic Forces of Burkina (CFD-B)	3
Union of Sankarist Parties (UPS)	2
Party for Democracy and Progress-Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party (PDP-PS)	2
Rally for the Development of Burkina (RDB)	2
Party for Democracy and Socialism (PDS)	2
Party for National Rebirth (PAREN)	1
African Independence Party (PAI)	1
Citizen's Popular Rally (RPC)	1
Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS)	1

21 November 2010 Presidential Election

Registered Voters	3,234,555
Total Votes (Voter Turnout)	1,773,151 (54.8%)
Invalid/Blank Votes	78,954
Total Valid Votes	1,694,197

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Blaise Compaoré (CDP) [AMP]*	1,357,955	80.15%
Hama Arba Diallo (PDS)**	139,114	8.21%
Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara (UNIR-PS) [Burkind lom]	107,331	6.34%
Boukary Kaboré (UPS-MP)**	39,188	2.31%
Maxime Kaboré	25,085	1.48%
Pargui Emile Paré (MPS-PF) [CAP]	14,560	0.86%
Ouampoussoga François Kaboré (PDP-PS)	10,964	0.65%

*In addition to being the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party candidate along with the additional support of the Presidential Movement Alliance (AMP) coalition, Blaise Compaoré was also supported by the Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA).

**Candidates who received the support of parties other than their own without creating formal coalitions, include:

-Hama Arba Diallo - African Independence Party (PAI), Social Forces Front (FFS), Builders of Faso (FASO METBA), Citizens League of Builders (LCB), Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Union of Progressive Forces (UFP).

-Boukary Kaboré - National Council for Renaissance-Sankarist Movement (CNR-MS) and the Party for National Unity and Development (PUND).