(3 minutes read)
· Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré’s political party Mouvement du people (MPP) despite winning the presidential election by bagging 58% of the votes, failed to clinch majority of the parliamentary seats in the just concluded election
· The ruling party only obtained 56 seats and could not cross the benchmark of 64 seats to get absolute majority of the total number of 127seats
· Many predict the possibility of a collation between Kabore’s party and the New Times party , which is headed by current Minister of Transport, Vincent Dabilgou
Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré’s political party Mouvement du people (MPP) despite winning the presidential election by bagging 58% of the votes, failed to clinch majority of the parliamentary seats in the just concluded election.
The ruling party only obtained 56 seats and could not cross the benchmark of 64 seats to get an absolute majority. The total number of seats is 127. Significantly his party in the presidential election won comfortably in the first round. If a political party’s candidate does not get 50% vote share, he or she will have to contest against the leader of the combined opposition. In the previous term also Kabore won in the first round of elections. Kabore’s party can obtain this majority in the Parliament by cobbling up a coalition with various smaller parties.
Many predict the possibility of a coalition between Kabore’s party and the New Times party , which is headed by current Minister of Transport, Vincent Dabilgou. He also supported Kabore’s candidacy. There are other smaller parties the president can rely to reach the required majority. However, it is clear that he may not have a smooth sailing in Parliament and will be pressured by other parties in getting the vital policies rolled out.
The party of former President Blaise Compaoré- the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) whom KIabore defeated in 2014 after 27 years in power, became the second political force with 20 seats. Eddie Komboïgo, the candidate of the party, came second in the presidential election with 15.48% of the vote.
