Burundi

National AssemblySenate

National Assembly

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
20.05.2020
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2025
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
100
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
46

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
5,113,418
Votes Number of people who actually voted
4,464,359
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
87.31%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) retained the majority in the 123-member National Assembly (see note), taking 72 of the 100 seats at stake. The National Congress for Liberty (CNL, the main opposition party led by Mr. Agathon Rwasa) took 27 seats. The newly elected MPs are due to be sworn in on 28 July after indirect elections to the Senate on 20 July. 

In the presidential elections held in parallel with the parliamentary polls, the CNDD-FDD’s candidate, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, was elected president. The CNL said the polls were fraudulent and lodged a petition at the Constitutional Court. On 9 June, the Government announced that the outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza, who had held the post since 2005, had passed away. On 12 June, the Constitutional Court ruled the that Mr. Ndayishimiye must be sworn in as soon as possible. He was sworn in on 18 June instead of 20 August. 



The country has witnessed bouts of instability – including a coup attempt – since 2015 triggered by changes to the presidential term limit. The political crisis saw 420,000 Burundians, including several opposition figures, flee the country. No agreement between the Government and the opposition has been reached despite several inter-Burundian dialogues and international mediation efforts. Amid opposition protests, the new Constitution was adopted in a referendum held in May 2018 and promulgated by the President in June, who announced that he would not seek a further presidential term. The CNDD-FDD subsequently endorsed retired army general Ndayishimiye as its presidential candidate. 



During the election campaign, the CNDD-FDD promised to revive the country’s economy. The CNL called for a “profound change in all sectors of national lifeˮ. The official election campaign, which started on 27 April 2020, was “characterized by an increase in political intolerance and numerous acts of violence and human rights violations” according to the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi established by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The government rejected observers from the United Nations and African Union, accusing them of being too close to the opposition. 



Note:

In 2020, 72 Hutus and 28 Tutsis (including a total of 35 women) were directly elected. To respect the 60:40 Hutu-Tutsi balance and 30 per cent quota for women, 20 Tutsis (9 men and 11 women) were co-opted, making 46 women out of 120 members. In addition, 3 Twa representatives (including one woman) were co-opted. The newly elected National Assembly thus comprises a total of 123 members of whom 47 are women.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
3
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
6.52%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
86%
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total Elected members Co-opted members
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) 86 72 14
National Congress for Liberty (CNL) 32 27 5
Union for National Progress (UPRONA) 2 1 1
Twas 3 0 3
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
65
Number of women elected
35
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
35%
Women Directly Elected
35
Women Other
12

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
76
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
47
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
04.08.2020
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe (Male)
Political party
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD)
Date of election
07.08.2020