1959 Mauritanian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania on 17 May 1959. The result was a victory for the Mauritanian Regroupment Party, which was the only party to contest the elections, thereby winning all 40 seats in the National Assembly.[1] Voter turnout was 90.3%.[2]

The elections were the last to be held in pre-independence Mauritania, which achieved full independence on 28 November 1960.

Background

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The Mauritanian Progressive Union headed by Moktar Ould Daddah won 33 of the 34 seats in the Territorial Assembly elections held in March 1957.[3] Moktar Ould Daddah was chosen as the Chairman Mauritian Advisory Council by France's fourth republic.[4] On 28 November 1958, a Constitutional amendment allowed the creation of a transitional Legislative Council, replacing the Territorial Assembly. The country lacked experts to frame the constitution and accepted the proposals of a group of French jurists on 22 March 1959 unanimously.

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Mauritanian Regroupment Party350,126100.0040+7
Total350,126100.0040+6
Valid votes350,12699.23
Invalid/blank votes2,7250.77
Total votes352,851100.00
Registered voters/turnout387,82990.98
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

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After independence on 28 November 1960, the country declared itself as Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Ould Daddah became the first President of the country and declared the country as a one party state in 1964. During 1965, all parties merged with the ruling Mauritanian Assembly Party to form the Mauritanian People's Party (MPP).[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Elections in Mauritania". African Elections Database. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  2. ^ Nohlen, D; Krennerich, M; Thibaut, B (1999). Elections in Africa: A data handbook. p. 594. ISBN 0-19-829645-2.
  3. ^ Pazzanita, Anthony G. (2008). Historical Dictionary of Mauritania Volume 110 of Historical Dictionaries of Africa. Scarecrow Press. pp. 134–5. ISBN 9780810862654.
  4. ^ a b Europa Publications (2003). A Political Chronology of Africa. Routledge. p. 285. ISBN 9781135356668.
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