Zairean parliamentary election, 1977
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Zaire
on 15 and 16 October 1977, having originally been scheduled for 1980. The Popular Movement of the Revolution
was the sole legal party at the time, and all candidates for election to the Legislative Council
had to be members of it. In total, 2,074 candidates ran for the 252 seats (reduced from 540) in 100 constituencies. Voter turnout was 92.8%.
The new system of elections allowed some PMR members sceptical of the government to be elected, who went on to draw attention to corruption by questioning ministers. However, after thirteen of them sent an open letter to President Mobutu Sese Seko
calling for a conference on democracy, they were stripped of their parliamentary immunity and sent to prison. After being released from jail, they established the Union for Democracy and Social Progress. As a result of their actions, the power of the Council was reduced, and ministers could no longer be questioned by it. PMR members were also more thoroughly scrutinised before the next elections
in 1982.
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
on 15 and 16 October 1977, having originally been scheduled for 1980. The Popular Movement of the Revolution
Popular Movement of the Revolution
The Popular Movement of the Revolution was a Zairian political party established on May 20, 1967 by then-President Joseph-Désiré Mobutu .-Ideology:...
was the sole legal party at the time, and all candidates for election to the Legislative Council
National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Composition of the National Assembly...
had to be members of it. In total, 2,074 candidates ran for the 252 seats (reduced from 540) in 100 constituencies. Voter turnout was 92.8%.
The new system of elections allowed some PMR members sceptical of the government to be elected, who went on to draw attention to corruption by questioning ministers. However, after thirteen of them sent an open letter to President Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
calling for a conference on democracy, they were stripped of their parliamentary immunity and sent to prison. After being released from jail, they established the Union for Democracy and Social Progress. As a result of their actions, the power of the Council was reduced, and ministers could no longer be questioned by it. PMR members were also more thoroughly scrutinised before the next elections
Zairean parliamentary election, 1982
Parliamentary elections were held in Zaire on 18 and 19 September 1982. The Popular Movement of the Revolution was the sole legal party at the time, and all candidates for election to the Legislative Council had to be members of it. In total, 1,409 candidates ran for the 310 seats in 154...
in 1982.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popular Movement of the Revolution Popular Movement of the Revolution The Popular Movement of the Revolution was a Zairian political party established on May 20, 1967 by then-President Joseph-Désiré Mobutu .-Ideology:... |
10,180,685 | 100 | 289 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 188,574 | ||
| Total | 10,369,259 | 100 | 289 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||