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Three days following the general elections, the official results fell Monday, October 10 in Lesotho. The ruling party confirms its collapse and will not be able to form a government. The charge will fall to the Revolution for Prosperity Party (RFP) and Sam Matekane, its leader. Lesotho’s richest man surprised everyone by winning 56 of the 120 seats in the National Assembly.
With our special correspondent in Maseru, Roman Song
Sam Matekane entered politics out of disgust with coalition governments. Since 2012, these heterogeneous assemblies have never lasted until the end of the mandates, hence the political instability of Lesotho.
If Sam Matekane should be appointed future Prime Minister, he fails on the other hand to obtain an absolute majority. He hoped to obtain at least 61 seats to govern without concessions. It missed. Despite its very good results for a party launched in March, the Prosperity Revolution won only 56 seats.
A slight setback for those who hoped to have free rein and run Lesotho as he runs his businesses. He will therefore have to discuss with the other parties. The choice is wide: 14 political parties obtain seats thanks to a dose of proportional representation. A form of repechage.
The ruling party, the Basotho Coalition (ABC), did not win any constituencies, but proportional representation awarded it 8 seats.
These elections were marked by extremely low turnout: only 37% of registered voters turned out to vote. Turning the country around and restoring citizens’ confidence will be the missions of the next government, the solidity of which will depend on the coalition currently being negotiated.
► Read also Lesotho: the new party RFP leads the elections, according to the first results
