National Assembly (Niger)

National Assembly Assemblée nationale
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Prime Minister of Niger	Brigi Rafini, PNDS Since 2 April 2016
President	Ousseini Tinni Since 20 March 2016
Structure
Seats	171 members
Political groups	Government (118)      Party for Democracy and Socialism (75)      Patriotic Movement for the Republic (13)      Nigerien Patriotic Movement (5)      Other minor parties (25) Opposition (53)      Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation (25)      National Movement for the Development of Society (20)      MNRD–PSDN Alliance (6)      Union for Democracy and the Republic (2)
Elections
Voting system	Proportional representation
Last election	21 February 2016
Meeting place
Niamey
Website
www.assemblee.ne

Government (118)

Opposition (53)

The unicameral National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) is Niger's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.

The National Assembly was established through reforms of the Colony of Niger's Constituent Council during the French colonial period. It operated from 1958, through independence in 1960, until the 1974 Nigerien coup d'état. During the course of military rule (1974–1991) a consultative body (the High Council of the Republic of Niger) was reformed to become analogous to a National Assembly. This functioned as a caretaker National Assembly during the Constitutional Convention period of the Second Republic (1991–1993) and was reconstituted as the National Assembly in the Third Republic (1993–1996). Following the 1996 Nigerien coup d'état the National Assembly was again suspended, and reinstituted in 1997 under the Fourth Republic. Again, following the 1999 Nigerien coup d'état, the National Assembly was suspended, but this time was reconstituted within the year under the Fifth Republic. (1999–present)

On 27 May 2009, the assembly was dissolved by Tandja Mamadou after his plan to hold a referendum was rejected by the Constitutional Court. Although the court and the National Assembly had only a non-binding advisory role over Tandja's referendum plan, statements by MNSD-Nassara's coalition partners CDS-Rahama indicate the MNSD Prime Minister of Niger, as well as the President, would be open to a censure motion in the assembly. According to the 1999 constitution, the President is limited to stand for reelection once: Tandja's second five-year term ends 22 December 2009. The purpose of the proposed referendum was to scrap the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, creating a new Sixth Republic prior to the November Presidential elections. Constitutionally, the articles dealing with presidential terms (article 36) may not be revised by any method (article 136). According to Tandja, the people of Niger want him to stay because he has boosted the economy of Niger. The opposition described this act as dictatorship, calling for protests: a continuation of demonstrations which began in December 2008.