View source for 2011 Chadian parliamentary election

{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Chad
| previous_election = [[2002 Chadian parliamentary election|2002]]
| election_date = 13 February 2011
| next_election = [[2024 Chadian parliamentary election|2024]]
| seats_for_election = All 188 seats in the [[National Assembly (Chad)|National Assembly]]
| majority_seats = 95
| nopercentage = yes

| party1 = [[Patriotic Salvation Movement|MPS]]–[[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Chad)|RDP]]–[[National Rally for Development and Progress|RNDP]] | leader1 = [[Haroun Kabadi]] | seats1 = 134 | last_election1 = 128
| party2 = [[National Union for Democracy and Renewal|UNDR]]–[[Party for Liberty and Development|PLD]] | leader2 = [[Saleh Kebzabo]] | seats2 = 12 | last_election2 = 5
| party3 = National Rally for Democracy in Chad | leader3 = [[Albert Pahimi Padacké]] | seats3 = 8 | last_election3 = 1
| party4 = Union for Renewal and Democracy | leader4 = [[Wadel Abdelkader Kamougué]] | seats4 = 8 | last_election4 = 3
| party5 = Federation, Action for the Republic | leader5 = [[Ngarlejy Yorongar]] | seats5 = 4 | last_election5 = 10
| party6 = Chadian Convention for Peace and Development | leader6 = | seats6 = 2 | last_election6 = New
| party7 = Democratic and Socialist Party for Alternation | leader7 = [[Malloum Yoboïde Djekari]] | seats7 = 2 | last_election7 = New
| party8 = Union for Democracy and the Republic (Chad) | leader8 = [[Jean Alingué Bawoyeu]] | seats8 = 2 | last_election8 = 0
| party9 = African Party for Peace and Social Justice | leader9 = [[Valentin Néatobeye Bidi]] | seats9 = 1 | last_election9 = 0
| party10 = [[Action for Renewal of Chad|ART]]–[[National Democratic and Social Convention|CNDS]]–[[Popular Party for Justice and Equality|PPJE]] | leader10 = [[Oumar Boukar]] | seats10 = 2 | last_election10 = 2
| party11 = Chadian Democratic Union | leader11 = {{ill|Abderaman Koulamallah|fr}} | seats11 = 1 | last_election11 = 0
| party12 = Democratic Party of the Chadian People | leader12 = | seats12 = 1 | last_election12 = New
| party13 = Movement of Patriotic Chadians for the Republic | leader13 = | seats13 = 1 | last_election13 = 0
| party14 = [[People's Movement for Democracy in Chad|MPDT]]{{nowrap|–[[Rally for Democracy and Progress/Renewed|RDP/R]]–[[National Democratic and Social Convention|CNDS]]}} | leader14 = [[Mahamat Abdoulaye]] | seats14 = 1 | last_election14 = 1
| party15 = National Action for Development | leader15 = [[Salibou Garba]] | seats15 = 1 | last_election15 = 0
| party16 = National Alliance for Democracy and Renewal | leader16 = [[Josué&nbsp;Djïkornondï&nbsp;Tapambaye]] | seats16 = 1 | last_election16 = New
| party17 = New Breath for the Republic | leader17 = [[Kosmadji Merci]] | seats17 = 1 | last_election17 = New
| party18 = Party for Unity and Reconstruction | leader18 = | seats18 = 1 | last_election18 = 0
| party19 = {{ill|Party for Integral Democracy and Independence|fr|Parti pour la démocratie et l'indépendance intégrales|lt=PDI}}–[[Rally of the People of Chad|RPT]] | leader19 = [[Djébaret Julien Beassemda]] | seats19 = 1 | last_election19 = 0
| party20 = Rally of People for Democratic Alternation | leader20 = [[Nobo N'Djibo]] | seats20 = 1 | last_election20 = New
| party21 = Union for the National Democratic Upsurge | leader21 = | seats21 = 1 | last_election21 = New
| party22 = Union of Chadian Ecologists | leader22 = [[Badono Daigou]] | seats22 = 1 | last_election22 = New
| party23 = Union of Democratic Forces/Republican Party | leader23 = {{ill|Gali Ngothé Gatta|fr}} | seats23 = 1 | last_election23 = 0

}}{{Politics of Chad}}

Parliamentary elections were held in [[Chad]] on Sunday, 13 February 2011, the first since 2002.<ref name="moncrit">{{Cite news|author=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|title=Opposition to contest Chad's parliamentary elections|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1618951.php/Opposition-to-contest-Chad-s-parliamentary-elections|newspaper=Monsters and Critics.com|publisher=WotR, Ltd|date=13 February 2011|access-date=2011-02-13|archive-date=2013-01-03|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103220404/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/news/article_1618951.php/Opposition-to-contest-Chad-s-parliamentary-elections|url-status=dead}}</ref> The elections were originally scheduled for 28 November 2010, but were postponed following a meeting in September between the ruling party and opposition leaders. According to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), this was due to timing constraints caused by complications encountered during electoral preparations.<ref name="postpone">{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Chad electoral commission pushes back votes|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iflbFiq7DBTBpz3n_V7F_KwV1E4w|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124203714/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iflbFiq7DBTBpz3n_V7F_KwV1E4w|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2013|publisher=Google News|date=25 September 2010|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref>

The administration of [[President of Chad|President]] [[Idriss Déby]] had been in power since 1990,<ref name="moncrit"/> and his party, the [[Patriotic Salvation Movement]] (MPS), had won nearly three-quarters of seats in the [[2002 Chadian parliamentary election|2002 elections]], but the results were condemned by observers as flawed.<ref name="moncrit"/><ref name="dailytimes">{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|title=Chad opp to contest polls after nine year absence|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\02\13\story_13-2-2011_pg4_8|newspaper=Daily Times|date=13 February 2011|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref> Since 1990, the results of Chad's elections have been consistently disputed by opposition parties and civil organisations.<ref name="dailytimes"/><ref name="postpone"/> This year's elections were the result of an accord signed by the ruling party and its opponents in August 2007, under the auspices of the [[European Union]], to foster democracy in the [[Chadian Civil War (2005–2010)|war-torn]] country.<ref name="dailytimes"/> However, international observers and opposition leaders stated prior to the elections that another victory for the MPS was most likely.<ref name="moncrit"/>

The elections saw the MPS-led coalition retain its majority in the [[National Assembly (Chad)|National Assembly]], winning 134 of the 188 seats. [[2011 Chadian presidential election|Presidential elections]] were subsequently held on 25 April 2011, which saw Déby re-elected.<ref name="moncrit"/><ref name="postpone"/>

== Background ==
On August 13, 2007, the ruling [[Patriotic Salvation Movement]] (MPS) of President [[Idriss Déby]], its allies, and most opposition parties signed an agreement after six months of negotiations regarding the organisation of the election. According to the agreement, an electoral census will be organised, an improved electoral file will be created,<ref name="Accord">{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Tchad: signature d'un accord majorité-opposition sur les élections|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?art_cle=38667|newspaper=Jeune Afrique|language=fr|date=13 August 2007|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref> and a new 31-member independent electoral commission, with equal representation for the ruling majority and the opposition and a president of the commission agreed upon by the parties, will be established. The agreement also provides for the use of single ballots,<ref name=Accord/><ref name=Delayed>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070813214755532C666623 "Chad parties agree on delayed polls"], Reuters (''IOL''), August 14, 2007.</ref> for the security forces to vote one day before the rest of the population,<ref name=Accord/> and for nomads to vote on the day of the election instead of beforehand as in the past.<ref name=Delayed/> Additionally, the agreement provides for the inclusion of the opposition in the government. To allow time for the agreement to be implemented, the election will be delayed until 2009 and the mandate of the current [[National Assembly of Chad|National Assembly]] will be extended until then. Déby described the agreement as a step towards peace. The agreement was signed by 87 parties; the only major opposition group that did not sign was [[Federation, Action for the Republic]] (FAR).<ref name=Accord/>

FAR President [[Ngarlejy Yorongar]] criticised the agreement as inadequate and said that signing it would be a "waste of time." He said that there should instead be a dialogue involving the entire political scene, including rebels, the exiled opposition, and civil society, and that a credible election could not be conducted while a rebellion was taking place in part of the country. Yorongar was also critical of the fact that the independent electoral commission would be subject to the decisions of the [[Constitutional Council of Chad|Constitutional Council]], which he alleged is controlled by Déby, and of the management of the electoral census by the government instead of the electoral commission.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Tchad: l'opposant Yorongar refuse de perdre du temps à signer un accord vain|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38672|newspaper=Jeune Afrique|language=fr|date=14 August 2007|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref>

A committee overseeing the implementation of the agreement was subsequently set up, headed by [[Lol Mahamat Choua]], the President of the [[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Chad)|Rally for Democracy and Progress]] opposition party.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Life returns to N'Djamena|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2267496,00.html|publisher=News24.com|date=13 February 2008|access-date=2011-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214210309/http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2267496,00.html|archive-date=14 February 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During a [[Battle of N'Djamena (2008)|battle between government forces and rebels]] in [[N'Djamena]] in February 2008, several opposition leaders, including Choua, were arrested, and doubt was subsequently cast over the future of the agreement by members of the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Chad opposition targeted|url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=703323|newspaper=The Times, South Africa|date=11 February 2008|access-date=2011-02-13}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Following the arrests of the opposition leaders, the Coordination of Political Parties for the Defence of the Constitution (CPDC), a coalition whose leader, [[Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh]], was among those arrested, suspended its participation on the follow-up committee.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Agence France Presse|title=Tchad: la coalition d'Ibni demande une enquête "réellement internationale|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=43464|newspaper=Jeune Afrique|language=fr|date=17 March 2008|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref>

Roughly 4.8 million citizens were registered to vote, just two-fifths of the population.<ref name="dailytimes"/>

== Campaign ==

=== Patriotic Salvation Movement ===
President Déby, commenting on the elections, said, "Everyone has something to win. A greater presence of the opposition will only increase the credibility [of the government]".<ref name="dailytimes"/>

=== Opposition ===
The opposition is composed of more than one hundred tiny parties, which are mostly under-funded and highly fragmented.<ref name="dailytimes"/> The main opposition group is the Coordination of Political Parties for the Defence of the Constitution (CPDC), an umbrella group of 20 parties, four of which hold seats in the current parliament.<ref name="postpone"/>

During the lead-up to the elections, the CPDC accused the government of monopolising the state media, and criticised the "interference of officials at all levels in the electoral process on the one hand, and the overuse of means and assets of the state for electioneering".<ref name="postpone"/>

==Conduct==
In N'Djamena, Déby called on all Chadians to fulfil their duty as a citizen, to choose their representatives in the national parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Chad election begins|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/chad-election-begins-1.1025462|newspaper=Independent Online|publisher=Independent News and Media|date=13 February 2011|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref>

The European Union and [[African Union]] have both sent electoral observers to the country.<ref name="moncrit"/> The EU mission reported that it had found no evidence of fraud. Louis Michel, head of the EU observer mission, said: "From our observations, we have not seen any irregularities specifically aimed at fraud".<ref>{{Cite news|author1=Nako, Madjiasra |author2=John, Mark |author3=Golovnina, Maria |title=Chad election given thumbs-up despite delays|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/chadNews/idAFLDE71C0DX20110213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218063839/http://af.reuters.com/article/chadNews/idAFLDE71C0DX20110213|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2011|newspaper=Reuters.com|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=13 February 2011|access-date=2011-02-14}}</ref> "In some polling stations there is a lack of material and organisation," he said. "However, it seems that these are fair, democratic and transparent elections." Michel also remarked on the relative stability in the country: "The mood is good and peaceful. There is no violence".<ref>{{Cite news|author1=Logan, Michael |author2=Hedemann, Philipp |author3=Deutsche Presse-Agentur |title=EU observer says Chad's elections seem 'fair, democratic'|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/13/2653062/eu-observer-says-chads-elections.html|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services|date=13 February 2011|access-date=2011-02-13}}</ref>

==Results==
Déby's Patriotic Salvation Movement won 110 of the 188 parliamentary seats, giving it a majority. Another 21 seats went to its allies,<ref name="reutresults">{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|title=Chad vote results show strong Deby support|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE71R0DS20110228|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717201016/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE71R0DS20110228|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2011|newspaper=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=28 February 2011|access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> giving Déby's supporters an absolute majority,<ref name="googleresults">{{Cite web|author=Agence France-Presse|title=President's party wins Chad general election|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ih_OiKFdrcQvoQAk6KzuEn-oRT9Q?docId=CNG.3bcc0040b48d45bb31070d5319019b17.91|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731080553/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ih_OiKFdrcQvoQAk6KzuEn-oRT9Q?docId=CNG.3bcc0040b48d45bb31070d5319019b17.91|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2012|date=28 February 2011|access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|title=President's Party Wins Chad Election|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Presidents-Party-Wins-Chad-Election-117062678.html|newspaper=VOANews.com|publisher=Voice of America|date=28 February 2011|access-date=2011-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312091956/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Presidents-Party-Wins-Chad-Election-117062678.html|archive-date=12 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and indicating strong support for Déby ahead of the presidential election in April.<ref name="reutresults"/>

A total of sixteen parties won at least one seat. The most successful of the opposition groups was the [[National Union for Democracy and Renewal]], led by [[Saleh Kebzabo]], which won 11 seats.<ref name="googleresults"/>

<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|party1=[[Patriotic Salvation Movement]]|votes1=|seats1=83
|party2=[[Patriotic Salvation Movement|MPS]]–[[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Chad)|RDP]]|votes2=|seats2=25
|party3=[[Patriotic Salvation Movement|MPS]]–[[National Rally for Development and Progress|RNDP]]|votes3=|seats3=18
|party4=[[National Union for Democracy and Renewal]]|votes4=|seats4=10
|party5=[[Patriotic Salvation Movement|MPS]]–[[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Chad)|RDP]]–[[National Rally for Development and Progress|RNDP]]|votes5=|seats5=8
|party6=[[Union for Renewal and Democracy]]|votes6=|seats6=8
|party7=[[National Rally for Democracy in Chad]]|votes7=|seats7=8
|party8=[[Federation, Action for the Republic]]|votes8=|seats8=4
|party9=[[National Union for Democracy and Renewal|UNDR]]–[[Party for Liberty and Development|PLD]]|votes9=|seats9=2
|party10=[[Democratic and Socialist Party for Alternation]]|votes10=|seats10=2
|party11=[[Chadian Convention for Peace and Development]]|votes11=|seats11=2
|party12=[[Union for Democracy and the Republic (Chad)|Union for Democracy and the Republic]]|votes12=|seats12=2
|party13=[[Action for Renewal of Chad|ART]]–[[National Democratic and Social Convention|CNDS]]|votes13=|seats13=1
|party14=[[People's Movement for Democracy in Chad|MPDT]]–[[Rally for Democracy and Progress/Renewed|RDP/R]]–[[National Democratic and Social Convention|CNDS]]|votes14=|seats14=1
|party15=[[Popular Party for Justice and Equality|PPJE]]–[[Action for Renewal of Chad|ART]]–[[National Democratic and Social Convention|CNDS]]|votes15=|seats15=1
|party16=[[Chadian Democratic Union]]|votes16=|seats16=1
|party17=[[National Action for Development]]|votes17=|seats17=1
|party18=[[New Breath for the Republic]]|votes18=|seats18=1
|party19=[[Rally of People for Democratic Alternation]]|votes19=|seats19=1
|party20=[[Movement of Patriotic Chadians for the Republic]]|votes20=|seats20=1
|party21=[[Democratic Party of the Chadian People]]|votes21=|seats21=1
|party22=[[Union of Democratic Forces/Republican Party]]|votes22=|seats22=1
|party23=[[Union of Chadian Ecologists]]|votes23=|seats23=1
|party24={{ill|Party for Integral Democracy and Independence|fr|Parti pour la démocratie et l'indépendance intégrales|lt=PDI}}–[[Rally of the People of Chad|RPT]]|votes24=|seats24=1
|party25=[[African Party for Peace and Social Justice]]|votes25=|seats25=1
|party26=[[Party for Unity and Reconstruction]]|votes26=|seats26=1
|party27=[[National Alliance for Democracy and Renewal]]|votes27=|seats27=1
|party28=[[Union for the National Democratic Upsurge]]|votes28=|seats28=1
|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110602202023/https://eisa.org.za/wep/cha2011results.htm EISA]
}}</onlyinclude>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Africa|Politics}}

{{Chadian elections}}

[[Category:Parliamentary elections in Chad]]
[[Category:2011 elections in Africa|Chad]]
[[Category:2011 in Chad|Parliamentary election]]
[[Category:February 2011 events in Africa|Chad]]
[[Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results]]