RPF leads in parliamentary preliminary results, no seat for opposition

Two opposition parties namely Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) and PS-Imberakuri failed to secure 5% required for a seat.

All four independent candidates scored below 1% as PSD and PL won 8.5% and 7% respectively, in the preliminary results announced last night by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

NEC President Prof. Kalisa Mbanda said DGPR and PS Imberakuri tied at 4.5% each.

“All four independent candidates have fewer votes than required for them to enter the parliament. Tomorrow’s counts can’t change anything for them to secure a seat,” he said.

The candidates included Philippe Mpayimana who also scored below 1% in the last year’s presidential elections.

Without specifying on the votes share, Prof. Mbanda said that with Diaspora votes, RPF also leads in 25 countries reported so far.

The ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) has other six parties in its coalition.

The six are PDI, PSR, PDC, PPC, UDPR and PSP.

According to the preliminaries, little change can be expected in the next 80-seat Lower House compared to the last.

In the parliament’s term that ended last month, RPF had absolute majority with 41 seats out of 53 contested in general elections by parties and independent candidates.

RPF and its then allied parties— PDI, PSR, PPC, PDC— had won 76.2% votes in 2013, slightly above the yesterday’s 75% in the preliminaries.

PSD and PL had seven and five seats respectively.

Diaspora voted on Sunday while voters in Rwanda cast votes on Monday.