Comoros Ruling Party Secures Dominance in Recent Parliamentary Elections

The ruling party in Comoros won 28 out of 33 parliament seats, including one by President Assoumani’s son. The elections, boycotted by opposition parties, faced allegations of irregularities. A runoff is scheduled for February 16 for two remaining seats.

The ruling party in Comoros, led by President Azali Assoumani, has secured a significant victory by winning 28 out of 33 parliamentary seats, including one won by the president’s son. The Independent National Electoral Commission reported that the opposition managed to capture two seats while an independent candidate claimed one. The remaining two seats will proceed to a runoff scheduled for February 16.

The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros, which also governs all three islands of the nation, faced a largely boycotted election by opposition parties on Sunday. Nour El Fath Azali, the president’s son, garnered 85 percent of the vote in his constituency and has been appointed as the government’s secretary general, equating him to the role of prime minister. The electorate consists of approximately 338,940 registered voters, although turnout figures have not been disclosed.

Fakridine Mahamoud, the minister of the interior overseeing the elections, stated, “The people have decided. I am not saying that everything was perfect, but I believe that there has been a lot of exaggeration in certain facts.” He dismissed allegations of electoral irregularities made by the United Opposition coalition, which condemned the elections as “the worst electoral farce of our half-century of independence.”

Comoros, an Indian Ocean archipelago, has been under the leadership of President Azali Assoumani for several terms. His party holds a dominant position in the political landscape, especially following recent elections that many opposition parties chose to boycott. The elections were aimed at filling parliamentary seats amidst claims of various irregularities by opposition groups. The political climate in Comoros is marked by a power struggle, often leading to allegations of electoral misconduct.

In summary, the recent parliamentary elections in Comoros have resulted in a substantial victory for President Azali Assoumani’s party, allowing it to maintain control over the legislature and the governing bodies of its islands. The opposition’s choice to boycott these elections emphasizes a strained political environment. Furthermore, the reported allegations of electoral impropriety shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by the Comorian electoral system and its governance.

Original Source: www.barrons.com