President Joseph Kabila’s party has lost 45 percent of the legislative seats it held before November elections that were denounced as fraudulent and chaotic, according to belated results announced Thursday by Congo’s electoral commission. Kabila still will command a majority in parliament, where his coalition of several parties has won about 260 of the 500 seats, down from more than 300 in the previous assembly. Officials from the discredited electoral commission announced the last of the winning legislators Thursday in results it has issued piecemeal and following a suspension of the count from the Nov. 28 balloting.
An Associated Press count shows Kabila’s party winning at least 61 seats, down from 111. Etienne Tshisekedi’s opposition party is in second place with 41 seats. Tshisekedi has called the elections “rubbish” and declared he won the presidential vote claimed by Kabila.
Thursday’s results do not include 17 seats in the south and east of the country where the commission canceled the elections because of violence and fraud.
Presidential and legislative elections were held the same day. Presidential results showed Kabila winning 100 percent of votes at some balloting stations, and more than 100 percent of registered voters participating at other stations where he won.
Full Article: The Associated Press: Congo leader’s party loses 45 percent of its seats.
