Malawi
National Assembly
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Presidential system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
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
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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.
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21 May 2019
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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20 Mar 2019
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Upon normal expiry
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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16 Sep 2025
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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.
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193
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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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.
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13
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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".
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1,329
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
1,034
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
295
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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22.2%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
6,859,570
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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President Peter Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) remained the largest party, taking 62 seats in the 193-member National Assembly. It took seven more seats than the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), led by Mr. Lazarus Chakwera. In all, 44 women were elected in 2019, up from 32 elected in 2014. In the presidential elections, held in parallel with the parliamentary polls, the incumbent President Mutharika was declared re-elected after a partial vote recount ordered by the High Court (see note). He narrowly defeated Mr. Chakwera (MCP). On 28 May, Mr. Mutharika was sworn in for a second term. Mr. Chakwera (MCP) took up his parliamentary seat. On 18 June, the newly elected National Assembly elected Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara (MCP) as its Speaker, who thereby became the first woman in Malawi to assume the post.
The 2019 elections were the first to be held after Cyclone Idai hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in March, affecting nearly 3 million people and killing more than 1,000. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on the economy, promising to alleviate poverty and tackle corruption and unemployment. They also promised to develop agriculture to ensure food security.
Note:
The MCP and the United Transformation Movement (UTM) of Vice-President Saulos Chilima accused the Election Commission of vote rigging, an allegation that it denied. The MCP petitioned the High Court to nullify the presidential election results. The High Court subsequently ordered a partial election recount and issued an injunction preventing the Election Commission from announcing the presidential election results. On 27 May, after the High Court lifted the injunction, the Election Commission declared Mr. Mutharika winner of the presidential elections.
On 3 February 2020, the Constitutional Court announced that the presidential result was “invalid, null and void” and ordered a fresh vote in 150 days. The Court stated that “irregularities and anomalies have been so widespread, systematic and grave that the integrity of the results have been seriously compromised”.
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Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
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6
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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.
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46.2%
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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.
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32.1%
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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.
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No
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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1
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Political group | Total |
|---|---|
| Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) | 62 |
| Malawi Congress Party (MCP) | 55 |
| United Democratic Front (UDF) | 10 |
| People's Party (PP) | 5 |
| United Transformation Movement (UTM) | 4 |
| Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) | 1 |
| Independents | 55 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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148
- Number of women elected
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44
Notes:
The distribution of seats above refers to 192 seats confirmed in the May 2019 elections. Elections did not take place in one constituency due to the death of one of the candidates.
A male candidate from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was elected in the deferred elections held on 30 January 2020.
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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22.9%
- Women Directly Elected
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44
- Other notes on the elections
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The distribution of seats above refers to 192 seats. Elections did not take place in one constituency due to the death of one of the candidates.
- Sources
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Electoral Commission (25.05.2019, 01.06.2019, 14.06.2019)
AFP
BBC Monitoring
africanews.com
MALAWI CONGRESS PARTY MANIFESTO 2019-2024
New legislature
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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 -
148
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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 -
44
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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 -
22.9%
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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.
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108
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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.
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56.3%
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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 -
19 Jun 2019
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Catherine Gotani Hara (Female)
Date of birth: 04 Apr 1974 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
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Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
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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.
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19 Jun 2019