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Burkina Faso

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Burkina Faso

President Blaise Compaoré Prime Minister Tertius Zongo National Assembly Political parties Elections 2005 presidential 2007 parliamentary Regions Provinces Departments Foreign relations

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The Burkina Faso presidential election of 2005 was held on November 13. The incumbent president Blaise Compaoré has been the de facto ruler of Burkina Faso since October 15, 1987, was first elected in 1991, and was re-elected in 1998. In August 2005, he announced his intention to maintain his presidency for a third term. Opposition politicians argued that Compaoré could not run in the election because a constitutional amendment passed in 2000 limits a president to two terms. The amendment also reduces the term length from seven to five years. Compaoré's supporters, however, argued that the amendment could not be applied retroactively.[1]

In October 2005 the constitutional council ruled that because Compaoré was president in 2000, the amendment does not apply until the end of his current mandate, thereby allowing his candidacy in the 2005 election.

The President of Burkina Faso has strong, executive power, and appoints the Prime Minister. Compaoré was widely expected to win. His popularity rating was placed at 61.2%, and of the twelve opposition candidates, his most notable opponent Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara, the candidate for the Alternance 2005 coalition, has only 5% of the population's support.

The most contentious political issues facing the nation's government are freedom of press, economic viability, and tension with neighboring Côte d'Ivoire caused by alleged Burkinabé support for Ivorian insurgents and the migration of several workers to the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Compaoré's campaign manager Salif Diallo expressed his confidence in his candidate, "Our objective is not the victory of our candidate in the first round - that's already a sure thing, given the mobilisation of our supporters and the popularity of our candidate. Our goal is rather that the turnout and the lead be high."

On October 27 and 28, 18 labour unions called a two-day strike for higher salaries and pensions, and lower taxes on basic necessities. While in Gaskinde, Sankara supportively stated, "The labour union strikes demonstrate that the citizens have had enough of this government."

• (BBC)
• (AllAfrica)

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