Congo Republic: President’s party secures majority in 2 round of voting

Official results published overnight from a second round of legislative elections in the Republic of Congo give the president’s party an absolute majority in parliament with 89 deputies.

The results were announced late Tuesday by Interior Minister Zephirin Raymond Mboulou. He said the Congolese Labor Party and its allies won a total of 117 seats in the National Assembly.

The first round of elections were held on July 15 where no candidate got a majority. A second round was held on August 5.

Andre Ongagna, the ruling party’s administrative secretary, says the gains allow the president to continue his mandate.

President Denis Sassou-Nguesso first came to power in the Republic of Congo from 1979 until a 1992 election defeat. He was elected in 2002 and then 2009 for a second and final seven-year term.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press