President Alassane Ouattara's Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) retained its majority in the 255-member National Assembly (see note 1) at the delayed elections held in March 2021 (see note 2) but reduced its share of seats from 167 to 139. The Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI–RDA, led by Mr. Henri Konan Bedie) and its allies won a total of 73 seats, while the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI, led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, see note 3) took only three seats. Although a law adopted in 2019 stipulates a 30 per cent quota for women candidates (see note 4), few parties respected the quota in 2021. Nevertheless, the number of women in the new legislature slightly increased from 29 in 2016 to 33.

The 2021 elections in West Africa’s biggest economy followed controversial presidential elections in October 2020 in which the incumbent President won a third term (see note 5). The opposition protested that the Constitution required the President to step down. The PDCI and the FPI boycotted the presidential elections. Campaigning for the 2021 parliamentary elections was mostly peaceful and smooth. 

Note 1: 
The March 2021 elections were held for 254 seats due to the death of a candidate.

Note 2:
The National Assembly normally serves a five-year term. In accordance with transitional measures in the 2016 Constitution (c.f., Article 182), the term of the first Parliament established under the 2016 Constitution (the National Assembly elected in 2016 and the Senate, newly established in April 2018) was due to expire by December 2020. Article 182 was modified in March 2020, thereby allowing the Parliament to remain in office until the elections were organized. The Senate is expected to complete its five-year term and be renewed in 2023. 

Note 3:
On 17 June, former president Laurent Gbagbo returned to the country after being ousted during a civil war in 2011, and then acquitted of war crimes in The Hague.

Note 4: 
Article 3 of the Promotion of Women’s Representation in Elected Assemblies Act 2019 (Act No. 2019-870 of 14 October 2019) requires that a minimum of 30 per cent of candidates are to be women for both the majority and proportional representation systems. It also requires that candidates of different genders be alternated throughout the list (a so-called zebra system). Article 4 of the 2019 Act states that all parties or groups of parties that field at least 50 per cent women candidates will benefit from additional public funding. The law applies to elections to both the National Assembly and the Senate (which is indirectly elected) as well as to regional, district and municipal councillors (c.f., Article 2).

http://www.famille.gouv.ci/public/documents/19838507.pdf 

Note 5:
President Ouattara initially endorsed Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly (RHDP) but he died in July 2020. The President then announced his own candidacy in August, stating that his first two mandates did not count under the new Constitution adopted in 2016.