Côte d'Ivoire

National Assembly Senate

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes
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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)
06 Mar 2021 to 12 Jun 2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
29 Dec 2021
Timing of election
Delayed elections
Expected date of next elections
31 Mar 2026
Number of seats at stake
255
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates
1,265
Number of male candidates
1,053
Number of female candidates
212
Percentage of women candidates
16.8%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
7,359,399
Voters
2,788,022
Voter turnout
37.9%

Results

About the election

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.

Number of parties winning seats
8
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
54.5%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) 139
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)-Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS) 49
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) 23
Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS) 7
Union for Côte d’Ivoire (UPCI)-Arc-en-ciel 7
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) 2
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI)-Alliance of Democratic Forces (AFD)-Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI)-Arc-en-ciel-AGIR 1
Ivorian Popular Front - Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally - Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (FPI-PDCI-EDS) 1
Independents 26
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
222
Number of women elected
33

Notes:

As at 31 March 2021, there were 249 members (including 32 women), pending the repeat elections in six constituencies.

These elections were held on 12 June 2021. One woman was elected, bringing the total number of women elected in the 2021 elections to 33 out of 255 members.

As at 28 September 2021, there were 36 women out of 254 members.

Percentage of women elected
12.9%
Women Directly Elected
33
Other notes on the elections

Note on the timing of election:

The term of the National Assembly is normally five years from the date of the first session. However, in accordance with the transitional measures in the 2016 Constitution, the term of the National Assembly elected in March 2016 was due to expire by December 2020 (c.f., Article 182 of the 2016 Constitution) and elections were to be held before the expiry of the term. Article 182 was modified in March 2020, thereby allowing Parliament to remain in office until the elections were organized.

Note on the parties or coalitions winning seats:

The statistics above reflect the results of repeat elections held in six constituencies on 12 June 2021.

- Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP): 3 seats

- Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA): 1 seat

- Ivorian Popular Front – Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally – Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (FPI-PDCI-EDS): 1 seat

- Independents: 1 seat

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
218
Total number of women after the election
36
Percentage of women after the election
14.2%
First-term parliamentarians
135
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
53.1%
Date of the first session
30 Mar 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Amadou Soumahoro (Male)
Date of birth: 1953
Political party
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP)
Date of election
30 Mar 2021

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No