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Burundi ruling party wins controversial parliamentary poll

Tuesday July 07 2015

The ruling party of Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has swept to an expected overwhelming victory in controversial parliament elections that were boycotted by the opposition, according to official results released Tuesday.

The CNDD-FFD party of President Nkurunziza, who is seeking a disputed third term in office, won 77 out of 100 elected seats in parliament, with two more seats going to its ally UPRONA, according to the national election commission.

The boycott

The opposition boycotted the June 29 polls, which the UN electoral observer mission said took place "in a climate of widespread fear and intimidation".

The elections were also condemned by the African Union and European Union, while civil society groups backed the boycott calling on voters to skip the "sham elections" after months of turmoil.

Despite opposition boycott, the coalition Independents of Hope group of Agathon Rwasa and Charles Nditije won 11 seats.

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