Description of Electoral System:

(courtesy of IFES election guide)

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 7-year term. In the Senate 66 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. In the National Assembly 137 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

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Most recent election

(courtesy of wikipedia)

Elections in 2002 saw Sassou win with almost 90% of the vote cast. His two main rivals Lissouba and Bernard Kolelas were prevented from competing and the only remaining credible rival, Andre Milongo, advised his supporters to boycott the elections and then withdrew from the race. A new constitution, agreed upon by referendum in January 2002, granted the president new powers and also extended his term to seven years as well as introducing a new bicameral assembly. International observers took issue with the organization of the presidential election as well as the constitutional referendum, both of which were reminiscent in their organization of Congo's era of the single-party state. Currently, Congo holds a rotating seat in the UN Security Council.