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 Burundi portal |
Parliamentary elections were held in Burundi on 10 May 1965, the first since independence in 1962. Voters elected the National Assembly, which had been reduced from 64 to 33 seats.[1] They followed the assassination of Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe on 15 January 1965, and were won by the ruling Union for National Progress.
Results
National Assembly
| Party | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union for National Progress | 21 | –37 | |
| Party of the People | 10 | +6 | |
| Other parties | 0 | 0 | |
| Independents | 2 | New | |
| Total | 33 | –31 | |
| Source: EISA | |||
Senate
Following the National Assembly elections, the 16-member Senate was filled. Eight members of the Senate were elected by the members of the National Assembly, all of which were UPRONA members. The eight Senate members elected a further four members, with a further four appointed by the King.[2]
Aftermath
Despite the decisive victory by Hutu candidates in the election, King Mwambutsa IV appointed a Tutsi prince, Léopold Biha, as Prime Minister.
Tensions finally erupted into violence following an attempted coup by Hutu army officers in October 1965. The failed coup was followed by a major purge of Hutus in the armed forces. Hutu politicians and civilians were also killed. The following year Mwambutsa was overthrown by his son, Ntare V, who was deposed in a military coup later in the year, ending the country's monarchy.
References
- ^ Elections in Burundi African Elections Database
- ^ Indirect Legislative Elections in Sub-Saharan Africa: Burundi African Elections Database
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