Politics of the Republic of the Congo

Politics of the Republic of the Congo takes place in a framework of a unitary semi-presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government, of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Recently, following the approval of a new Constitution after a referendum in 2015, Congo became a semi-presidential republic after the creation of the post of prime minister who is responsible to the legislature, as well is the cabinet of the former. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and the two chambers of parliament.

Executive branch

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Denis Sassou-Nguesso	Party of Labour	25 October 1997
Prime Minister	Clément Mouamba	Party of Labour	23 April 2016

Legislative branch

The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) elects its members to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The members of the Senate (Sénat) are elected for a six-year term by district, local and regional councils. The Republic of Congo is a one party dominant state with the Congolese Labour Party in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.

Political parties and elections

Presidential elections

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Denis Sassou Nguesso	Congolese Party of Labour	838,922	60.19
	Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas	Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development	209,632	15.04
	Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko	Independent	191,562	13.74
	Pascal Tsaty Mabiala	Pan-African Union for Social Democracy	65,025	4.67
	André Okombi Salissa	Initiative for Democracy in Congo	57,373	4.12
	Claudine Munari	Movement for Unity, Solidarity and Labour	21,530	1.54
	Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou	Chain	3,540	0.25
	Michel Mboussi Ngouari	Convention of Republican Parties	3,301	0.24
	Anguios Nganguia Engabé	Party for Action of the Republic	2,905	0.21
Total			1,393,790	100.00
Valid votes			1,393,790	93.55
Invalid/blank votes			96,171	6.45
Total votes			1,489,961	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,161,839	68.92
Source: Constitutional Court

Parliamentary elections

Party	First round			Second round			Total seats	+/–
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
Congolese Party of Labour			72			18	90	+1
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy			3			5	8	+1
Dynamic for the Republic and Recovery			0			3	3	New
Action Movement for Renewal			3
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress			2
Union for a People's Movement			2
Club 2002 PUR			1
Party for Agreement and Political Action			1
Patriotic Front			1
Citizen Rally			1
Union of Democratic Forces			1
Independents			8			–
Vacant			–			–	9
Total			95				151	+12
Registered voters/turnout	2,221,596	100	–			–	–	–
Source: Jeune Afrique, Radio France Internationale

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN (Security Council member for 2006/2007), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

References

External links

• Congo Government at Curlie