# 2018 Mauritanian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania in September 2018; the first round took place on 1 September, with a second round held on 15 September. At the national level, elections were held in 157 constituencies, each electing one member to the National Assembly. Elections were also held in 13 regional councils and 219 municipalities.
As a result of the election, Union for Republic (UPR) remained the single largest party at the national level both in terms of popular vote and seats.

## Electoral system

The 157 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods; 113 are elected from single- or multi-member constituencies using either the two-round system or proportional representation; in single-member constituencies candidates require a majority of the vote to be elected in the first round and a plurality in the second round. In two-seat constituencies, voters vote for a party list (which must contain one man and one woman); if no list receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round is held, with the winning party taking both seats. In constituencies with three or more seats, closed list proportional representation is used, with seats allocated using the largest remainder method. For three-seat constituencies, party lists must include a female candidate in first or second on the list; for larger constituencies a zipper system is used, with alternate male and female candidates.
The other 40 seats are elected from a single nationwide constituency, also using closed list proportional representation, with half elected on separate lists reserved for women. A further four members are elected by the diaspora.

## Preliminary results

| Party | National PR seats | National PR seats | National PR seats | Women's seats | Women's seats | Women's seats | Constituency seats | Constituency seats | Constituency seats | Constituency seats | Constituency seats | Constituency seats | Total seats |
| Party | National PR seats | National PR seats | National PR seats | Women's seats | Women's seats | Women's seats | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | | Total seats |
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Total seats |
| Union for the Republic | 136,809 | 19.47 | | 135,831 | 19.60 | | | | | | | | 93 |
| Tewassoul | 79,283 | 11.28 | | 87,473 | 12.62 | | | | | | | | 14 |
| Union for Democracy and Progress | 30,495 | 4.34 | | 32,625 | 4.71 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| El Karam | 24,761 | 3.52 | | 24,131 | 3.48 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| National Democratic Alliance | 22,148 | 3.15 | | 20,257 | 2.92 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Union of the Forces of Progress | 19,664 | 2.80 | | 23,275 | 3.36 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Rally of Democratic Forces | 19,273 | 2.74 | | 18,335 | 2.65 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Shura Party for Development | 15,409 | 2.19 | | 9,941 | 1.43 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Unitary Party for the Construction of Mauritania | 14,063 | 2.00 | | 15,802 | 2.28 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| People's Progressive Alliance | 12,899 | 1.84 | | 13,045 | 1.88 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Sawab | 12,265 | 1.75 | | 9,880 | 1.43 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Burst of Youth for the Nation | 11,273 | 1.60 | | 12,299 | 1.77 | | | | | | | | 3 |
| National Pact for Democracy and Development | 9,865 | 1.40 | | 12,228 | 1.76 | | | | | | | | 2 |
| El Wiam | 9,188 | 1.31 | | 8,499 | 1.23 | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Party for Conciliation and Prosperity | 7,878 | 1.12 | | 5,210 | 0.75 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| AJD/MR | 7,102 | 1.01 | | 5,895 | 0.85 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Party of Unity and Development | 6,890 | 0.98 | | 3,877 | 0.56 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Ravah Party | 6,749 | 0.96 | | 8,562 | 1.24 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for the Union and Reform | 6,521 | 0.93 | | 4,178 | 0.60 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| El Vadila | 6,265 | 0.89 | | 5,658 | 0.82 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Mauritanian Authenticity | 6,256 | 0.89 | | 7,874 | 1.14 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Justice and Democracy | 5,994 | 0.85 | | 3,772 | 0.54 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Democratic Union | 5,655 | 0.80 | | 9,182 | 1.32 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| El Moustaghbel | 5,570 | 0.79 | | 8,472 | 1.22 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal | 5,533 | 0.79 | | 8,315 | 1.20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| El Islah | 5,334 | 0.76 | | 9,008 | 1.30 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Rally for Mauritania | 4,855 | 0.69 | | 3,243 | 0.47 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Avant-Garde Party of the Forces of Democratic Reform | 4,717 | 0.67 | | 4,443 | 0.64 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Movement for Refoundation | 4,709 | 0.67 | | 4,032 | 0.58 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Liberal Democratic Party | 4,607 | 0.66 | | 4,342 | 0.63 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Union for Democracy and Development | 4,538 | 0.65 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Rally for Freedom and Democracy | 4,338 | 0.62 | | 4,479 | 0.65 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Tomorrow | 4,196 | 0.60 | | 5,156 | 0.74 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Mauritanian People's Congress | 4,063 | 0.58 | | 2,889 | 0.42 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| WAVA Mauritanian Party | 4,006 | 0.57 | | 2,915 | 0.42 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Social Democrat Union | 3,915 | 0.56 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Conservatives | 3,850 | 0.55 | | 2,003 | 0.29 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of the Mauritanian Masses | 3,771 | 0.54 | | 4,907 | 0.71 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Current Party of Renewing Thought | 3,706 | 0.53 | | 3,198 | 0.46 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Coalition of Mauritainians for the Fatherland | 3,675 | 0.52 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 1 |
| Dignity and Action Party | 3,520 | 0.50 | | 3,177 | 0.46 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Labour and Equality | 3,448 | 0.49 | | 3,058 | 0.44 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Justice Party | 3,441 | 0.49 | | 3,358 | 0.48 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Alliance Party | 3,431 | 0.49 | | 5,237 | 0.76 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Peace and Democratic Progress | 3,392 | 0.48 | | 4,515 | 0.65 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Mauritanian Party of Renewal | 3,384 | 0.48 | | 4,316 | 0.62 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Renewal | 3,370 | 0.48 | | 3,622 | 0.52 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Nida El Watan | 3,366 | 0.48 | | 2,907 | 0.42 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Socialist Party | 3,359 | 0.48 | | 6,015 | 0.87 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Agreement Party | 3,270 | 0.47 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Direct Democracy Movement | 3,230 | 0.46 | | 4,270 | 0.62 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Popular Front | 3,201 | 0.46 | | 3,218 | 0.46 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Justice and Development | 3,102 | 0.44 | | 3,608 | 0.52 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Congress Party | 3,066 | 0.44 | | 2,184 | 0.32 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Democratic Convergence | 3,056 | 0.43 | | 2,658 | 0.38 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| New Generation Party | 2,942 | 0.42 | | 3,126 | 0.45 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Rally for Unity | 2,803 | 0.40 | | 3,974 | 0.57 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Dialogue and Democracy Party | 2,715 | 0.39 | | 2,555 | 0.37 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Khiyar Party | 2,677 | 0.38 | | 3,778 | 0.55 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Third Generation Party | 2,671 | 0.38 | | 2,994 | 0.43 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Ribat Party for Rights and Generation Construction | 2,610 | 0.37 | | 1,816 | 0.26 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Harmony | 2,491 | 0.35 | | 4,039 | 0.58 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Justice and Equality Party | 2,385 | 0.34 | | 2,354 | 0.34 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Consultation Party | 2,380 | 0.34 | | 2,826 | 0.41 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Union for the Construction of Mauritania | 2,340 | 0.33 | | 1,250 | 0.18 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Socialist Democratic Unionist Party | 2,198 | 0.31 | | 2,046 | 0.30 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for the Defence of the Environment | 2,169 | 0.31 | | 1,344 | 0.19 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Development Party | 2,166 | 0.31 | | 1,698 | 0.24 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Movement of Mauritanian Patriots | 2,092 | 0.30 | | 1,991 | 0.29 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Parti Ribat Démocratique et Social | 2,036 | 0.29 | | 2,290 | 0.33 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| New Vision | 2,034 | 0.29 | | 3,103 | 0.45 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic People's Party | 2,024 | 0.29 | | 1,639 | 0.24 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Generations of the Democratic Future | 2,004 | 0.29 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Union for Justice and Development | 1,943 | 0.28 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Democratic Union of Youth | 1,926 | 0.27 | | 1,105 | 0.16 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| People's Rally Party | 1,845 | 0.26 | | 1,450 | 0.21 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Republican Front for Unity and Democracy | 1,829 | 0.26 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Hope Party | 1,824 | 0.26 | | 2,709 | 0.39 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Rally for Democracy and Unity | 1,819 | 0.26 | | 1,710 | 0.25 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Parti du Concret, Arc en ciel | 1,808 | 0.26 | | 1,249 | 0.18 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party for Equity and the Defence of Rights | 1,664 | 0.24 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Parti de la Mauritanie Comptemporaine | 1,658 | 0.24 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| El Inma National Party | 1,630 | 0.23 | | 1,502 | 0.22 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| People's Democratic Party | 1,621 | 0.23 | | 1,433 | 0.21 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Union for Planning and Construction | 1,596 | 0.23 | | – | – | – | | | | | | | 0 |
| Union for Development and Democracy | 1,523 | 0.22 | | 1,352 | 0.20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Union of the Democratic Center | 1,487 | 0.21 | | 1,031 | 0.15 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Construction and Progress | 1,407 | 0.20 | | 2,851 | 0.41 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Democracy | 1,269 | 0.18 | | 818 | 0.12 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party for Freedom, Equality and Justice | 1,265 | 0.18 | | 1,124 | 0.16 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Party of Civilisation and Development | 1,249 | 0.18 | | 2,683 | 0.39 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Rally for Equality and Justice | 1,235 | 0.18 | | 1,360 | 0.20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian People's Movement | 1,132 | 0.16 | | 1,373 | 0.20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Alliance for Democracy in Mauritania | 1,122 | 0.16 | | 1,493 | 0.22 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| National Construction | 1,061 | 0.15 | | 1,199 | 0.17 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Party for Reform and Equality | 1,049 | 0.15 | | 1,363 | 0.20 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Mauritanian Union of Social Forces | 1,032 | 0.15 | | 1,099 | 0.16 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Blank votes | 21,374 | 3.14 | – | 23,521 | 3.39 | – | | | – | | | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 324,659 | – | – | 333,298 | – | – | | – | – | | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,027,367 | 100 | 20 | 1,026,371 | 100 | 20 | | | | | | | 157 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 1,417,823 | 72.46 | – | 1,417,823 | 72.43 | – | | | – | | | – | – |
| Source: CENI, CENI ||||||||||||||

## Aftermath

After the election, 76 parties from both the presidential majority and opposition camps were dissolved for not obtaining more than 1% or not participating twice in two consecutive local elections, based on an election law passed the year before, with only 28 parties remaining in the political arena. Some of the dissolved parties include the first party founded after the establishment of multi-party politics, the Rally of Democracy and Unity, and the Movement of Reformation led by Kane Hamidou Baba.

### Election of the President of the National Assembly

The election of the President of the National Assembly took place on 8 October 2018, a week after its original scheduled date. Cheikh Ahmed Baye was elected president in the first round.
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes obtained |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | Required majority → | 79 out of 157 |
| | Cheikh Ahmed Baye | Union for the Republic | 118 Y |
| | Assouvi Ould Cheibani | Tewassoul | 27 N |
| | Abstentions | Abstentions | 4 |
| | Null votes | Null votes | 2 |
| Absentees | Absentees | Absentees | 6 |

## Footnotes

* ↑ Includes the 4 representatives of Mauritanians overseas, who were yet to be elected by the electoral college.