Lesotho

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.

View field in the data dictionary

03 Jun 2017

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature

Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.

View field in the data dictionary

07 Mar 2017

Timing of election

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections

View field in the data dictionary

Early elections

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.

View field in the data dictionary

120

Scope of elections

Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.

View field in the data dictionary

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.

View field in the data dictionary

30

Total number of candidates

Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".

View field in the data dictionary

1,374

Number of male candidates

Number of male candidates

View field in the data dictionary

943

Number of female candidates

Number of female candidates

View field in the data dictionary

431

Percentage of women candidates

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.

View field in the data dictionary

31.4%

Voter turnout

Registered voters

Number of people registered to vote

View field in the data dictionary

1,254,506

Results

About the election

Short description of the context and results of the election.

View field in the data dictionary

Former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's All Basotho Convention (ABC) came first in snap elections but failed to win an outright majority. On 16 June, Mr. Thabane was again sworn in as Prime Minister in a new coalition government, comprising his ABC, the Alliance of Democrats (AD), the Basotho National Party (BNP) and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL), which jointly hold 63 seats in the 121-member National Assembly.

The 2017 elections - the third poll in five years - were triggered after Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili of the Democratic Congress (DC) lost a vote of confidence in March. Mr. Mosisili had been leading a seven-party coalition since 2015. His deputy, Mr. Monyake Moleleki, defected with a number of DC members and joined the ABC in passing the March 2017 no confidence vote against Mr. Mosisili urging the King to appoint Mr. Moleleki as the new Prime Minister. Mr. Mosisili chose to dissolve parliament instead of resigning from the post in favour of Mr. Moleleki. King Letsie III subsequently dissolved parliament thus paving the way to the snap elections held in June 2017.

Number of parties winning seats

The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.

View field in the data dictionary

12

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.

View field in the data dictionary

40.0%

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.

View field in the data dictionary

42.5%

Alternation of power after elections

The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.

View field in the data dictionary

Yes

Number of parties in government

The government may be formed by one or more political parties

View field in the data dictionary

4

Names of parties in government

The government may be formed by one or more political parties

View field in the data dictionary

All Basotho Convention party (ABC), Alliance of Democrats (AD), Basotho National Party (BNP), Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected

95

Number of women elected

27

Percentage of women elected

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.

View field in the data dictionary

22.1%

Women Directly Elected

27

Other notes on the elections

Note on the number of members:

In accordance with Article 63 (1) and Article 64 (1) of the Constitution, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker may be elected "either from among the persons who are members [of the National Assembly] or from among other persons". The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, who assumed the post in June 2017, are not elected members of the National Assembly. The current legislature thus comprises 122 members in all: 120 elected members, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

Note:

Elections in three constituencies were not held in June 2017 due to the passing on of candidates. The All Basotho Convention (ABC) won the three seats in differed elections held on 30 September, thereby increasing its share from 48 to 51 seats. The distribution of seats above reflects the results of the differed elections. The number of women remained at 27 out of 122 members.

Sources

Sources:

National Assembly (13.06.2017, 15.06.2017, 02.11.2017, 03.11.2017, 14.11.2017)

Independent Electoral Commission

BBC

Lesotho Times

Al Jazeera

Africa Research Institute

African Arguments

News 24

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.

View field in the data dictionary

95

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.

View field in the data dictionary

27

Percentage of women after the election

The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.

View field in the data dictionary

22.1%

First-term parliamentarians

The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.

View field in the data dictionary

No information available

Percentage of first-term parliamentarians

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.

View field in the data dictionary

No information available

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.

View field in the data dictionary

12 Jun 2017

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature

Sephiri Enoch Motanyane (Male)
Date of birth: 1939

Date of election

The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.

View field in the data dictionary

12 Jun 2017