Burundian legislative election, 1965

Burundi

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Burundi

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Parliamentary elections were held in Burundi on 10 May 1965, the first since independence in 1962. Voters elected a 16-seat Senate for the first time, together with the National Assembly, which had been reduced from 64 to 33 seats. They followed the assassination of Prime Minister Pierre Ngendandumwe on 15 January 1965, and were won by the ruling Union for National Progress.

Results

Senate

Party	Votes	%	Seats
Union for National Progress			12
People's Party			0
Independents			0
Other parties			4
Total			16
Source: EISA

National Assembly

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Union for National Progress			21	-37
People's Party			10	New
Independents			2	New
Other parties			0	0
Total			33	-31
Source: EISA

Aftermath

Despite the decisive victory by Hutu candidates in the election, King Mwambutsa IV appointed a Tutsi prince, Léopold Biha, as Prime Minister.

Tensions finally erupted into violence following an attempted coup by Hutu army officers in October 1965. The failed coup was followed by a major purge of Hutus in the armed forces. Hutu politicians and civilians were also killed. The following year Mwambutsa was otherthrown by his son, Ntare V, who was deposed in a military coup later in the year, ending the country's monarchy.