Election Watch

ELECTION RESULTS (July-September 1995)

Armenia: On July 5 and 29, Armenians took part in parliamentary elections for the first time since the country’s August 1990 declaration of independence from what was then the USSR. An observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the campaign period and election process as “free, but not fair,” citing the bias of the state-run mass media, numerous reports of attempts to intimidate opposition candidates, and improprieties in the registration of candidates. The pro-government, six-party Hanrapetutyun (Republic) coalition captured almost 44 percent of the popular vote and won 20 of the 40 seats allocated by proportional representation (PR). The remaining PR seats went to the women’s organization Shamiram (8), the Communist Party of Armenia (6), and the Armenian Democratic Union and National Self-Determination Union (3 apiece). Plurality voting in 150 single-member districts (SMDs) decided who would hold the remaining seats in the 190-member National Assembly. Although results in several districts were withheld pending investigation of irregularities, the Central Electoral Commission confirmed that the Hanrapetutyun bloc garnered 139 of the SMD seats.

A referendum, held at the same time as the first round of parliamentary balloting, approved Armenia’s proposed new constitution. The constitution passed muster with 68 percent of the participating voters, who in turn comprised 37.8 percent of all eligible voters. (The constitution needed to win a simple majority in the referendum, with the further stipulation that the number of “yes” votes had to equal or exceed one-third of the total number of those eligible to vote.)

Dominica: In voting on July 11, retiring prime minister Mary Eugenia Charles’s Dominica Freedom Party lost its majority in the 21-seat House of Assembly when it garnered only 5 seats. The Dominica United Workers’ Party (DUWP), led by incoming prime minister Edison C. James, captured 10 seats. The Labour Party of Dominica, meanwhile, maintained its total of 5 seats. A dispute arose over the twenty-first seat, which seemed at first to have been won by the DUWP. The disposition of that seat will be decided by either a court order or a by-election in the coming months.

Guinea: In elections whose conduct was criticized by international observers and whose results have been protested by the opposition, Guinea chose a new, 114-seat National Assembly on June 11. In this first-ever multiparty balloting, President Lansana Conte’s Party for Unity and Progress won a commanding 71 seats. The Guinean People’s Rally heads the opposition with 19 seats and has since aligned with the Party of Renewal and Progress and the Union for the New Republic, each holding 9 seats. The Union for the Progress of Guinea won 2 seats. Four other parties earned one seat each in the new legislature, which replaces the Transitional Council of National Recovery.

Haiti: In elections on June 25 (with make-up balloting, necessitated by widespread irregularities in eight of the island nation’s nine provinces, on July 22), Haitian voters chose a new 18-member Senate and 83-member Chamber of Deputies. Complete official results were still not available at the time of this writing. They will be reported in a future issue.

Hong Kong: Legislative elections were scheduled for September 17. Results will be reported in a future issue.

Lebanon: A presidential election was scheduled for September 22. Results will be reported in a future issue.

Thailand: After July 2 balloting for the 391-seat House of Representatives, the ruling coalition, led by the Democrat Party of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, was ousted by a new majority bloc under the leadership of the Chart Thai party. Chart Thai’s total of 92 seats bested the Democrats’ 86, making the former the largest single party in the House. Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa then formed a seven-party coalition with 233 seats and himself as prime minister. In addition to the Chart Thai, the ruling coalition includes the following parties: New Aspiration (57 seats), Palang Dharma (23 seats), Social Action (22 seats), Prachakorn Thai (18 seats), Nam Thai (18 seats), and Muanchon (3 seats). The three other parties earning representation in the National Assembly were Chart Pattana (53 seats), Seritham (11 seats), and Solidarity (8 seats).

UPCOMING ELECTIONS (October 1995-September 1996)

Azerbaijan: parliamentary, 12 November 1995

Bangladesh: parliamentary, February 1996

Barbados: parliamentary, January 1996

Benin: presidential, March 1996

Cape Verde: parliamentary, 14 January and 16 February 1996

Côte d’Ivoire: presidential, October 1995; legislative, November 1995

Dominican Republic: presidential, 16 May 1996

Ecuador: presidential, 16 May 1996

Egypt: parliamentary, November 1995

Estonia: presidential, September 1996

Gambia: presidential/legislative, June 1996

Georgia: presidential/legislative, 5 November 1995

Guatemala: presidential, 5 November; legislative, 12 November 1995*

Haiti: presidential, 26 November 1995

Latvia: parliamentary, 1 October 1995

Liberia: presidential/legislative, September 1996*

Marshall Islands: legislative, November 1995*

Mauritius: parliamentary, September 1996

Nauru: legislative, November 1995*

Poland: presidential, November 1995

Romania: presidential/legislative, September 1996

Russia: parliamentary, 17 December 1995; presidential, June 1996

Sierra Leone: presidential/legislative, January 1996

South Korea: parliamentary, March 1996

Suriname: presidential/legislative, May 1996

Taiwan: legislative, 2 December 1995; presidential, March 1996

Tanzania: presidential/legislative, 29 October 1995

Thailand: parliamentary, September 1996

Uganda: presidential/legislative, December 1995

Ukraine: parliamentary, November 1995

Vanuatu: parliamentary, December 1995

Zimbabwe: presidential, February 1996

*tentative