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1954 Rwandan parliamentary election

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Indirect parliamentary elections were held in Rwanda in 1954.

Electoral system

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The Decree of 14 July 1952 by the Belgian authorities introduced an element of democracy to the Rwandan political system. A complicated electoral system was created, which involved seven stages of elections to eventually elect the national Superior Council (French: Conseil Superieur du Pays).[1]

Council Elected members Ex officio members Other members
Sub-Chiefdom Council 5–10 members elected by 10–18 notables Sub-chiefs
Chiefdom Council 10–18 members, 5–9 elected by sub-chiefs and 5–9 elected by notables Chiefs
Territorial Council Sub-chiefs elected from amongst their own and notables elected by Chiefdom Councils Chiefs
Superior Council 6 chiefs elected from their own number, 9 notables elected by Territorial Councils King, presidents of the Territorial Councils Up to 8 co-opted

Results

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The elections in the sub-chiefdoms and chiefdoms were held in 1953, with the elections to the Territorial Councils and the Superior Council following in 1954.[2]

Council Members Votes cast
Hutus Tutsis Total Hutu Tutsi Twa Total
Elected
chiefs
Elected
notables
Co-opted Elected
chiefs
Elected
notables
Ex officio Co-opted
Sub-chiefdom councils 0 1,995 0 0 1,562 628 0 4,187 7,674 5,442 29 13,485
Chiefdom councils 1 78 0 299 268 46 0 692 79 613 0 692
Territorial councils 0 19 0 56 83 46 0 204 19 185 0 204
Superior Council 0 0 3 6 9 10 5 33 3 29 0 32
Source: Sternberger et al.

References

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  1. ^ Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, p1699
  2. ^ Sternberger et al, p1725