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Friday, September 20, 2013

2013 Swaziland General Election Friday Sep 20,2013


The General Election for the House of Assembly in Swaziland is scheduled on Friday Sep 20,2013

Voters in Swaziland are choosing a new parliament.Candidates are hand-picked by traditional chiefs who are loyal to King Mswati III.King Mswati recently described his country's electoral system as a "monarchical democracy".

Political parties were officially banned in Swaziland in the 1970s - a restriction yet to be overturned, although they are now allowed to register.

Banned opposition groups, mainly based in South Africa, have called for a boycott of the election


The European Union and Southern African groups have sent observers to the polls.

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: King MSWATI III
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI
  • Assembly: Swaziland has a Bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consisting of the Senate with 30 seats and the House of Assembly with 65 seats.

Description of electoral system:

  • The King is hereditary head of state.
  • Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch.
  • In the Senate, 20 members are appointed by the monarch to serve 5-year terms and 10 members are elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve 5-year terms. In the House of Assembly, 10 members are appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms and 55 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

Population:

  • Population: 1,403,362 (July 2013 est.)

Past election

  • Parliamentary - September 19, 2008

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