Comoros Ruling Party Achieves Landslide Victory in Parliamentary Elections

The CRC party, led by President Azali Assoumani, won 28 out of 33 parliamentary seats, retaining a majority in Comoros. The election results await Supreme Court approval. Opposition parties boycotted the election, citing electoral fraud. Assoumani has been in power since winning the presidential elections in 2016, following constitutional changes that allow him to bypass term limits, reinforcing his political dominance amid tensions.

The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC), the ruling party led by President Azali Assoumani, has achieved a decisive victory by securing 28 of the 33 parliamentary seats, thus maintaining its majority in the Comorian legislature. The results, as announced by the electoral commission, are pending confirmation by the Supreme Court.

The parliamentary elections, conducted on Sunday, faced a boycott from several opposition parties that have previously leveled allegations of electoral fraud against Assoumani’s party. Assoumani, who is a former military officer, originally came to power in 1999 through a coup but resigned in 2006 after a single term.

In 2016, he re-entered the political arena, winning the presidential elections, and has remained in power since. Notably, constitutional amendments made in 2018 enabled him to avoid term limits as well as the existing political arrangement that initially was designed to rotate the presidency among Comoros’ three islands. This recent electoral success further consolidates his authority amidst ongoing political unrest.

In conclusion, the CRC’s sweeping victory in parliamentary elections reinforces President Assoumani’s control over Comoros, despite opposition boycotts and claims of fraud. The electoral result is significant in the context of Assoumani’s political journey, from a military coup leader to a president with extended powers due to constitutional amendments. This outcome is likely to exacerbate existing political tensions in the nation.

Original Source: www.africa.com