Presented by – Mphasa Mokhochane Deputy Director of Elections ◦ 2015 Lesotho Election Media Monitoring Findings Launch ◦ Maseru Sun – 20 th July 2015

Why MMP in Lesotho  First used in 2002 general elections, and in the proceeding elections 2007, 2012 and 2015  Strong single political party and many weaker political parties  Skewed election results – biased results favouring a strong political party  Imbalanced parliament – single party governmnet  Exclusion of smaller parties in government

Has the model responded to our needs ? Yes – Number of political parties in parilament has increased  2002 = 10  2007 = 9  2012 = 12  2015 = 10 No – [unexpected outcomes] Unanticipated coalition governmets Smaller parties determining governmnet formation

Benefits associted with MMP Campaign financing Party financing Improved trust on the Electoral Management Body ◦ which came evident in 2007 general elections where the dispute was based on allocation of seats and no attack on the EMB.

Challeges on the application of the model 2002 – two ballot papers – constituency ballot and national ballot 2007 – formation of decoy political parties as a result of informal alliances ◦ Weakness directed to two ballot papers 2012 – independent candidates forced to participate as political parties and submit their party lists, some challenged IEC and the court ruled in their favour. Constituency ballot paper counted twice for the constituency candidate and for the party vote. ◦ Single ballot paper

Cont – Independent candidates excluded from the campaign financing Election petition on grounds of excluding independent cadidates’ votes when determining the National Vote.

Future considerations 1. Inclusion of minority groups 2. Open party lists as against closed party lists 3. There is prograssively low voter turnerout