Senate of Burundi
Encyclopedia
The Senate is the upper chamber of Parliament
in Burundi
. It consists of no fewer than 37 and no more than 54 members who serve 5-year terms.
Two Senators, one Hutu
and one Tutsi
, are chosen by electoral colleges of communal councilors in each of the country's 17 provinces
. Voting takes place using a three round system. In the first two rounds, a candidate must receive a super-majority (two-thirds, or 67% of the vote) to be elected. If no candidate is elected in these rounds, a third round is organized for the two leading candidates, of which the candidate receiving the majority of votes is elected. Three Senators represent the Twa
ethnic group and additional members may be co-opted to meet the 30% gender representation quota
for women. Former heads of state automatically become Senators.
Senate elections took place on 29 July 2005. The National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
(CNDD-FDD), which obtained the majority of seats in communal elections held in June, won an overwhelming majority (30) of the seats. The Front for Democracy in Burundi
(FRODEBU) won 3 seats, while the remaining seat went the National Council for the Defense of Democracy
(CNDD), a breakaway faction of the CNDD-FDD. Four former heads of state - Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
(PARENA), Pierre Buyoya
(UPRONA), Sylvestre Ntibantunganya (FRODEBU), and the current transitional president Domitien Ndayizeye
(FRODEBU) will occupy seats in the Senate along with three Twa members. In order to meet the 30% quota for women, eight seats were co-opted giving the chamber of total of 49 seats.
Gervais Rufyikiri
, a member of the CNDD-FDD, was elected president of the Senate on 17 August 2005.
On 19 August 2005, the Senate and National Assembly
(acting as an Electoral College) elected Pierre Nkurunziza
president of the republic. He took office on 26 August 2005.
Parliament of Burundi
The Parliament of Burundi consists of two chambers:*The Senate *The National Assembly...
in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
. It consists of no fewer than 37 and no more than 54 members who serve 5-year terms.
Two Senators, one Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
and one Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
, are chosen by electoral colleges of communal councilors in each of the country's 17 provinces
Provinces of Burundi
||Burundi is divided into seventeen provinces, each named after their respective capital.-See also:*Communes of Burundi*Collines of Burundi*Geography of Burundi*List of Burundian provinces by area*List of Burundian provinces by population...
. Voting takes place using a three round system. In the first two rounds, a candidate must receive a super-majority (two-thirds, or 67% of the vote) to be elected. If no candidate is elected in these rounds, a third round is organized for the two leading candidates, of which the candidate receiving the majority of votes is elected. Three Senators represent the Twa
Great Lakes Twa
The Great Lakes Twa, also known as Abatwa or Ge-Sera, or in English Batwa, are a pygmy people who are generally assumed to be the oldest surviving population of the Great Lakes region of central Africa, though currently they live as a Bantu caste...
ethnic group and additional members may be co-opted to meet the 30% gender representation quota
Quota
-Commerce:* Import quota, a type of trade restriction* Production quota* Sales quota, a minimum sales goal for a set time span* Tariff-rate quota, a type of trade restriction-Electoral systems:* Droop quota* Election threshold* Hagenbach-Bischoff quota...
for women. Former heads of state automatically become Senators.
Senate elections took place on 29 July 2005. The National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy was the most significant rebel group active in the Burundi Civil War and became a major political party in Burundi...
(CNDD-FDD), which obtained the majority of seats in communal elections held in June, won an overwhelming majority (30) of the seats. The Front for Democracy in Burundi
Front for Democracy in Burundi
The Front for Democracy in Burundi is a progressive political party in Burundi.It was formed by followers of Melchior Ndadaye from the disbanded Burundi Workers' Party in 1986...
(FRODEBU) won 3 seats, while the remaining seat went the National Council for the Defense of Democracy
National Council for the Defense of Democracy
The National Council for the Defense of Democracy is a former ethnic Hutu rebel group that now functions as a political party in Burundi. The party is led by Léonard Nyangoma and holds seats in both chambers of Parliament .At the legislative elections in 2005, the party won 4.9 % and 4 out of 118...
(CNDD), a breakaway faction of the CNDD-FDD. Four former heads of state - Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is a Burundian politician who was Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council in Burundi until November 10, 1976, and President from November 10, 1976 to September 3, 1987. While travelling abroad, Bagaza was deposed in a military coup d'état. He was replaced as president by...
(PARENA), Pierre Buyoya
Pierre Buyoya
Major Pierre Buyoya is a Burundian politician who has ruled Burundi twice, from 1987 to 1993 and from 1996 to 2003...
(UPRONA), Sylvestre Ntibantunganya (FRODEBU), and the current transitional president Domitien Ndayizeye
Domitien Ndayizeye
Domitien Ndayizeye is a Burundian politician who was President of Burundi from 2003 to 2005. Of Hutu descent, he succeeded Pierre Buyoya—a Tutsi—as national president on April 30, 2003, after serving as Buyoya's vice-president for 18 months...
(FRODEBU) will occupy seats in the Senate along with three Twa members. In order to meet the 30% quota for women, eight seats were co-opted giving the chamber of total of 49 seats.
Gervais Rufyikiri
Gervais Rufyikiri
Gervais Rufyikiri has been the Second Vice President of Burundi since 2010. He became president of the Burundian Senate on 17 August 2005...
, a member of the CNDD-FDD, was elected president of the Senate on 17 August 2005.
On 19 August 2005, the Senate and National Assembly
National Assembly of Burundi
The National Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament in Burundi. It consists of 100 directly elected members and between 18 to 21 co-opted members who serve five-year terms....
(acting as an Electoral College) elected Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza is a Burundian politician who has been President of Burundi since 2005. He is the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy , the ruling party in Burundi, and also the current Chairman of the East African...
president of the republic. He took office on 26 August 2005.
See also
- Burundi elections, 2005Burundi elections, 2005The Republic of Burundi held several elections in 2005. The polls returned the nation to constitutional democratic rule after a devastating civil war that arose from long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority....
- Elections in BurundiElections in BurundiElections in Burundi gives information on election and election results in Burundi.Burundi elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The National Assembly has 118 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation with a 2% barrier...
- Politics of BurundiPolitics of BurundiPolitics of Burundi takes place in a framework of a transitional presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Burundi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- History of BurundiHistory of BurundiBurundi is one of the few countries in Africa, along with its closely linked neighbour Rwanda among others, to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state.-Kingdom of Burundi:...
- List of national legislatures
- List of Presidents of the Senate of Burundi
- Legislative branch