Yemeni parliamentary election, 1997

The 1997 Yemeni parliamentary elections took place on 27 April 1997 for the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen. The governing General People's Congress of President Ali Abdullah Saleh won a landslide victory in the elections.

Voters and candidates

Of the 16 million people in Yemen about 4.6 million were registered to vote with about a quarter of them being women. However only about 2.6 million people received their voting cards.cite web| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970502/12250253.html | title = Yemen's ruling party proclaims victory amid claims of fraud | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | date = 1997-05-02| publisher = "The Indian Express"]

Over 2,300 candidates, from 12 parties, competed for the 301 seats in the Parliament of Yemen. Most candidates were independents, however many of these were backed by either the General People's Congress or Islah parties. There were 19 female candidates.cite web| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03EED71431F93BA15757C0A961958260 | title = Yemen Holds Vote; First Since '94 Strife | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | date = 1997-04-28| publisher = "The New York Times"] Each party or independent candidate had their own logo such as an owl or horse for the ballot paper to help illiterate voters.cite web| url = http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/artic/gdn24.htm | title = Doves and eagles fight for votes: Yemen prepares for elections | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | date = 1997-04-24| publisher = "The Guardian"]

Campaign

Several opposition parties including the Yemeni Socialist Party boycotted the election alleging that the government had harassed and arrested their party workers. The main opposition party, Islah, attacked the government for not carrying out economic reforms and for corruption. There were few disagreements over policy between the parties.

Elections results

The election was held under the first past the post electoral system.

Post-election

In two districts, Hajjah and Dhamar the results were cancelled due to irregularities.cite web| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E5DB1639F93BA35756C0A961958260&n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/Yemen | title = Yemen Leader's Party Dominates Elections | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | date = 1997-05-08| publisher = "The New York Times"] International monitors described the elections as being 'reasonably free and fair' and 'a positive step in the democratic development of Yemen'.cite web| url = http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/artic/gdn27.htm | title = Peek behind screen of Yemen's paranoid poll | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | date = 1997-05-03| publisher = "The Guardian"]

After the election 39 MPs elected as Independents joined the General People's Congress, 10 joined the Islah party and 2 joined the Yemeni Socialist Party.cite web| url = http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/pol/tab7.htm | title = State of the parties, 1997 election | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | publisher = "Yemen gateway"]

References

External links

* [http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/pol/tab4.htm Complete list of parties who contested the election]