1965 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election

General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 18 March and 30 April 1965, following the promulgation of a new constitution approved by a referendum the previous year. 223 political parties contested the election for 167 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.[1]

1965 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election

← 1960 18 March – 30 April 1965 1970 →

167 members of the Chamber of Deputies

Prime Minister before election

Moïse Tshombe
CONAKAT

Elected Prime Minister

Évariste Kimba
FDC

The elections were won by parties allied with the Congolese National Convention, led by former secessionist leader Moise Tshombe, which won a total of 80 seats.[2] Following the elections, the results were disputed by several parties. The Léopoldville Court of Appeal accepted six of them, and re-runs were required in Kivu Central, Goma-Rutshuru, Cuvette Centrale, Fizi, Kwilu and Maniema, which were held between 8 and 22 August 1965.[1]

Despite Tshombe's party winning the election, President Joseph Kasa-Vubu appointed Évariste Kimba of the Congolese Democratic Front Prime Minister, a situation which ultimately led to Joseph Mobutu carrying out a military coup in November. By the next election in 1970, Mobutu had eliminated all opposition parties, allowing his Popular Movement of the Revolution to run unopposed. As a result, the 1965 election would be the last in which opposition parties were allowed to participate until 2006.

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Convention Nationale Congolaise227,9619.2438New
CONAKAT178,3027.239+1
Congolese Democratic Union162,0166.5710New
ABAKO136,2265.5210–2
Association of the Wanande of Beni and Lubero (CONACO)104,8964.257New
Rally for Congolese Democracy (CONACO)91,4753.714New
Party of National Unity82,6013.354–4
Parti Solidaire Africain-Kamitatu79,3583.224–9
Mwinda-Bakongo68,7502.795New
BALUKABAT64,8662.633New
African Democratic Union-Lubaya64,8452.634New
LUKA62,8562.554+1
Katangan Common Front59,2232.403New
Congolese Regrouping Party (CONACO)56,6982.304New
Congolese National Party (CONACO)52,0602.114New
Congolese Regrouping (CONACO)49,6752.016New
Congolese Democrat Party (CONACO)49,0391.994New
Luba People's Rally (CONACO)48,9441.984New
Congolese Democratic Party (CONACO)42,8781.742New
Movement for the Democratic Evolution of Africa36,4411.482New
Association of Socialist Christians of Congo36,4301.483New
Congolese National Party35,2751.433New
Popular Movement of Sankuru (CONACO)34,8111.412New
Budjala Union32,7801.331New
Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba31,8741.292–34
PDR (CONACO)29,2771.195New
ATCAR (CONACO)25,3751.031
ATCAR24,7101.002+1
Convention Nationale Congolaise cartels23,0520.931New
Association of Citizens of Tshuapa22,0110.892New
Congolese Rural Party21,8610.891New
Union of the Citizens of Lake Leopold II19,9440.811New
Congolese Democratic Rally19,9120.811New
Common Front of North Kivu19,1790.781New
Basonge Unity Movement (CONACO)16,3140.663+2
Congolese Democratic Party15,0590.611New
National Public Salvation Front (CONACO)15,1040.611New
INTERCOUP-Huapa11,6450.471New
CTS–UPP (CONACO)9,7810.401New
BA-LIKOLO9,6340.391New
Association of Socialist Christians of Congo6,2260.251New
Regional parties274,77811.1400
Independents12,8150.521+1
Total2,466,957100.00167+30
Source: Sternberger et al.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b DRC: Electoral Operation of the 1965 election Archived 2010-09-02 at the Wayback Machine EISA
  2. ^ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p292 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  3. ^ Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, pp2432−2433