2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election

The previous parliamentary elections in 2018 saw the incumbent Union for the Republic (UPR) re-elected with an absolute majority,{{cite news |title=Mauritania's ruling party wins majority parliament |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/mauritanias-ruling-party-wins-majority-parliament/2018/09/17/d6b51424-ba96-11e8-adb8-01125416c102_story.html |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=The Washington Post |date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917190520/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/mauritanias-ruling-party-wins-majority-parliament/2018/09/17/d6b51424-ba96-11e8-adb8-01125416c102_story.html |archive-date=17 September 2018 |url-status=dead|location=Nouakchott}} forming a coalition government with the Union for Democracy and Progress (UDP) with support of parties from the presidential majority, giving the UPR a comfortable majority in the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-30 |title=Mauritanie : un nouveau Premier ministre au profil de technocrate – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/655579/politique/mauritanie-un-nouveau-premier-ministre-au-profil-de-technocrate/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}

After the elections, 76 parties from both the presidential majority and opposition camps were dissolved for not obtaining more than 1% or not participating in two consecutive local elections, based on an election law passed the year before, with only 28 parties left registered.{{cite news |date=7 March 2019 |title=La Mauritanie dissout 76 partis politiques |trans-title=Mauritania dissolves 76 political parties |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20190307-mauritanie-partis-politiques-dissolution-ministre-interieur |language=fr |work=Radio France Internationale |access-date=4 September 2022}}{{cite news |title=قائمة الأحزاب السياسية التي تم حلها في موريتانيا |trans-title=List of disbanded political parties in Mauritania |url=http://nouadhiboutoday.info/node/4872 |language=ar |work=Nouadhibou Today |access-date=23 October 2022}}{{cite news |date=7 March 2019 |title=الأحزاب الموريتانية التي لم يتم حلها |trans-title=Mauritanian parties that have not been disbanded |url=http://elalem.info/article593.html |language=ar |work=El Alem |access-date=23 October 2022}}

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani from the UPR was elected president in the 2019 presidential elections, leading to the first peaceful transition of power in the country. Ghazouani quickly distanced himself from outgoing president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, a divide that was made effective when Sidi Mohamed Ould Taleb Omar was elected president of the UPR, with Ould Abdel Aziz leaving the party. Ould Abdel Aziz was subsequently charged with "corruption, money laundering, illicit enrichment and abuse of influence" by the Public Prosecutor in March 2021 and referred to court in June 2022.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2022 |title=Ex-Mauritanian President faces corruption charges |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220602-ex-mauritanian-president-faces-corruption-charges/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=Middle East Monitor |language=en}} He had been jailed in June 2021,{{Cite web |date=23 June 2021 |title=Mauritania's former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz jailed |url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/06/23/mauritania-s-former-president-mohamed-ould-abdel-aziz-jailed/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=Africanews |language=en}} until a bail was granted in January 2022 over health concerns.{{Cite web |date=8 January 2022 |title=Mauritania Grants Bail to Ailing Ex-President Amid Graft Probe |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/mauritania-grants-bail-to-ailing-ex-president-amid-graft-probe/6388103.html |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}

After the split between Ghazouani and Aziz, the parties of the presidential majority reaffirmed their support to Ghazouani when creating the Coordination of Parties of the Majority in April 2021, as the new alliance gathering the parties of the presidential majority heavily criticised the legacy of the former president.{{Cite web |date=21 April 2021 |title=أحزاب الأعلبية تعلن عن ميلاد منسقية جديدة وتؤكد شجبها لتصريحات ولد عبد العزيز |trans-title=The parties of the majority announce the birth of a new coordination and confirm their condemnation of Ould Abdel Aziz's statements |url=http://elhadeth.mr/node/16509 |access-date=1 October 2022 |website=El Hadeth |language=ar}}

Four major political parties merged into the Union for the Republic. On 18 October 2018, a month after the previous parliamentary elections, the Unionist Party for the Construction of Mauritania (PUCM) voted to merge into the UPR.{{cite news|url= https://www.chezvlane.com/Le-parti-unioniste-pour-la-construction-de-la-Mauritanie-rejoint-l-UPR_a10913.html |title=Le parti unioniste pour la construction de la Mauritanie rejoint l'UPR |trans-title= The Unionist Party for the Construction of Mauritania joins the UPR |language= fr |newspaper= Chezvlane |date=18 October 2018 |access-date=24 August 2022}} On 21 October Choura for Development made the same decision,{{cite AV media |date= 21 October 2018 |title= حزب الشورى من أجل التنمية يقرر الإندماج بحزب الإتحاد من أجل الجمهورية. |trans-title= The Choura for Development Party decides to merger in the Union for the Republic. |type= |url= https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2319551868059311 |access-date= 24 August 2022 |format=Facebook Watch video |publisher= El Mourabitoun}} while centrist El Wiam, a moderate opposition party, did the same on 29 October.{{cite news|url=http://mfr.ami.mr/Depeche-46903.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207171628/http://mfr.ami.mr/Depeche-46903.html |archive-date=7 December 2018 |title= Annonce de la fusion du parti El Wiam dans l'UPR |trans-title= Announcement of the fusion of El Wiam party into UPR |language=fr |newspaper= AMI (Mauritania News Agency) |date=29 October 2018 |access-date=24 August 2022}} The last party to merge into the UPR was the National Pact for Democracy and Development (PNDD-ADIL), which was the ruling party from 2007 until the 2008 coup. PNDD-ADIL merged into the UPR on 27 December 2019.{{cite news|url= http://www.rimfeed.com/fr/archive/102925 |title= Politique: Adil intègre l'UPR (officiel) |trans-title= Politics: Adil joins the UPR (official) |language= fr |newspaper= Rimfeed |date=27 December 2019 |access-date=24 August 2022}}

During the legislative term there were several cabinet reshuffles, the first one due to ministers appearing in papers from a parliamentary commission investigating corruption during the Aziz era, leading to the fall of Ismail Ould Bedde Ould Cheikh Sidiya's government in August 2020 and Mohamed Ould Bilal becoming the new PM.{{Cite web |date=7 August 2020 |title=Mauritanian Prime Minister replaced amid investigation into alleged corruption |url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/08/07/mauritanian-prime-minister-replaced-amid-investigation-into-alleged-corruption/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=Africanews |language=en}} The second one was in May 2021 to restructure several ministries.{{Cite web |date=26 May 2021 |title=Restructuration et remaniement ministériel en Mauritanie : 5 nouvelles arrivées |trans-title=Restructuring and ministerial reshuffle in Mauritania: 5 new arrivals |url=https://fr.saharamedias.net/restructuration-et-remaniement-ministeriel-en-mauritanie-5-nouvelles-arrivees/ |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=SaharaMedias |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=26 May 2021 |title=La Présidence de la République annonce un remaniement ministériel |trans-title=The Presidency of the Republic announces a ministerial reshuffle |url=https://www.primature.gov.mr/fr/node/287 |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=Prime Minister's website |language=fr}} The third one was in March–April 2022 after the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal, who was re-appointed the following day with a new cabinet.{{Cite web |date=1 April 2022 |title=Presidency of Republic Announces Formation of New Government |url=https://en.ami.mr/Depeche-2781.html |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=AMI (Mauritania News Agency) |language=en}} The fourth and fifth ones were in September 2022, the first due to the government wanting to fit in former PM Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf since he was seen as more capable of negotiating with the opposition and helping the government win the next elections,{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Remaniement partiel au niveau du Gouvernement |trans-title=Partial reshuffle at government level |url=https://ami.mr/fr/index.php/2022/09/06/remaniement-partiel-au-niveau-du-gouvernement/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=AMI (Mauritanian News Agency) |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=7 September 2022 |title=رجلُ الأغلبية وصديق المعارضة.. ماذا وراء تعيين ولد محمد لقظف؟ |trans-title=The man of the majority and friend of the opposition... What is behind the appointment of Ould Mohamed Laghdaf? |url=https://www.saharamedias.net/194321-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%84%D9%8F-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=SaharaMedias |language=ar}} with the second one happening two weeks later.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022 |title=Remaniement partiel du Gouvernement |trans-title=Partial reshuffle of the government |url=https://ami.mr/fr/index.php/2022/09/26/remaniement-partiel-du-gouvernement-5/ |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=AMI (Mauritanian News Agency) |language=fr}}

On 26 September 2022 an agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and Decentralisation and all political parties registered in Mauritania was reached to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023, with parties justifying it due to climatic and logistical conditions.{{Cite web |date=18 September 2022 |title=لظروف مناخية ولوجستية.. اتفاق في موريتانيا على تقديم مواعيد الانتخابات |trans-title=Due to climatic and logistical conditions, an agreement was reached in Mauritania to advance the election dates |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2022/9/18/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-7 |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=Al Jazeera |language=ar}}

File:حفل توقيع الوثيقة النهائية للتشاور بين الأحزاب ووزارة الداخلية.webm

On 26 September 2022 all Mauritanian political parties reached an agreement sponsored by the Ministry of Interior and Decentralisation to reform the election system ahead of the upcoming elections after weeks of meetings between all parties.{{cite news |url=https://alakhbar.info/?q=node/43045 |title=نص الاتفاق النهائي بين وزارة الداخلية والأحزاب السياسية |trans-title=The text of the final agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and political parties |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=27 September 2022 |access-date=4 October 2022}}

The 176 members (an increase of 17 members compared to 2018) of the National Assembly will be elected by two methods (with Mauritanians being able to cast four different votes in a parallel voting system); 125 are elected from single- or multi-member electoral districts based on the departments (or moughataas) that the country is subdivided in{{efn|name="New"|Six new departments were created in September 2021, which have led to an increase in seats representing them.[https://www.msgg.gov.mr/sites/default/files/2022-04/J.O.%201503F%20DU%2015.02.2022%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf Edition of the Official Journal of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania carrying the decrees establishing the new departments] (in French)}} (which the exception of Nouakchott, which has been divided in three 7-seat constituencies for this election based on the three regions (or wilayas) the city is subdivided in instead of the single 18-seat constituency that was used in 2018), 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.[http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2207_B.htm Electoral system] IPU 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 Mauritanian diaspora gets allocated four seats, with this election being the first time Mauritanians in the diaspora are able to directly elect their representatives.

The remaining 51 seats are elected from three nationwide constituencies, also using closed list proportional representation: a 20-seat national list (which uses a zipper system), a 20-seat women's national list and a new 11-seat youth list (with two reserved for people with special needs), which also uses a zipper system to guarantee the representation of women.

In November 2022 President Ould Ghazouani called the parties supporting him to support the introduction of a single ballot system in the election, reducing the number of ballots from four to one.{{cite news |url=https://alakhbar.info/?q=node/44072 |title=غزواني يحث أحزاب الأغلبية على التعبئة لنظام "الصوت الواحد" |trans-title=Ghazouani urges majority parties to mobilize for the "one-vote" system |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=16 November 2022 |access-date=17 November 2022}} It has been suggested that Ghazouani started to further push for this reform after ex-president Ould Abdel Aziz starting working on his election strategy, as the ruling party wants to ensure a victory in the upcoming elections.{{cite news |url=https://www.maghrebvoices.com/mauritania/2022/11/16/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D9%84%D9%80%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D8%B8%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%AD-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A8 |title= الغزواني يدعو لـ"نظام الصوت الواحد" بعد ظهور "شبح ولد عبد العزيز".. محللون: التجاذب سيعود |trans-title=Ghazouani calls for a "one-vote system" after the appearance of "the ghost of Ould Abdel Aziz"... Analysts: Attraction will return |language=ar |newspaper=Maghreb Voices |date=16 November 2022 |access-date=17 November 2022}}

Political analyst Abdellahi Ould Mohamed Lemine told Maghreb Voices that he believes that adopting this option in voting will cancel the current method of election, which relies on ability of voters in choosing different parties per ballot (national lists and constituency), and that such reform would benefit the largest parties, especially El Insaf, which is capable of fielding candidates in all constituencies. This reform would also open the door to further disputes between the government and the opposition, which strongly opposed this method.

Tewassoul called on political parties to coordinate to stand up to "the circumvention of the agreement", expressing their surprised at "the recent confusion about issues that were decided by the agreement", in reference to the "one vote" system. The party's spokesperson, Salek Ould Sidi Mahmoud, affirmed that he considers the issue as "an indication that does not encourage confidence in the government's commitment to the [election reform] agreement" and said that "the proposal to unify the card was put forward under the pretext of reducing the void cards, but it is a fact that greatly limits the voter's freedom of choice".{{cite news |url=https://alakhbar.info/?q=node/44142 |title="تواصل" يدعو الأحزاب للتنسيق في وجه الالتفاف على الاتفاق |trans-title="Tewassoul" calls on the parties to coordinate in the face of circumvention of the [election reform] agreement |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=19 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}}

On 16 February 2023, the National Independent Election Commission and the political parties agreed to ditch the idea of a unified ballot, deciding to keep the ballot design as it was.{{cite news |url=http://alakhbar.info/?q=node/45881 |title=اتفاق بين الأحزاب ولجنة الانتخابات على إلغاء فكرة البطاقة الموحدة |trans-title=Agreement between the parties and the Election Commission to cancel the idea of a unified ballot |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=16 February 2023 |access-date=17 February 2023}}

The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber when the National Assembly was dissolved on 13 March 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.alquds.co.uk/%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%82%D8%A9/ |title=فرق البرلمان الموريتاني تدعو لملاحقة إسرائيل وحماية الشعب الفلسطيني |trans-title=Mauritanian parliamentary groups call for the pursuit of Israel and the protection of the Palestinian people |language=ar |newspaper=Al-Quds Al-Arabi |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=4 July 2022}}

{{See also|List of political parties in Mauritania|List of candidates in the 2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election}}

The table below lists parties with parliamentary representation in the 9th National Assembly at the time of dissolution.

| colspan="2" |APP

|Haratine interests
Social liberalism

|Centre-left

|Messaoud Ould Boulkheir

|{{Composition bar|3|157|{{party colour|People's Progressive Alliance (Mauritania)|}}}}

|{{no2|Opposition}}

|-

| style="background:#F0C832;" |

| rowspan="2" | Sawab

|RAG

|Haratine interests
Social democracy

|Centre-left

|Biram Dah Abeid

|{{Composition bar|2|157|#F0C832}}

|{{no2|Opposition}}

|-

| style="background:#5B9BD5;" |

|Sawab

|Ba'athism
Arab nationalism

|Syncretic

|Ahmed Salem Ould Horma

|{{Composition bar|1|157|#5B9BD5}}

|{{no2|Opposition}}

|-

| style="background:#788F02;" |

| colspan="2" |PSJN

|Populism
Youth interests

|Big tent

|Lalla Mint Cheriva

|{{Composition bar|3|157|#788F02}}

|{{partial2|External support}}

|-

| style="background:#F8C3A0;" |

| CVE–CVE/VR

| AJD/MR

|Black minority interests

|Big tent

|Ibrahima Moctar Sarr

|{{Composition bar|1|157|{{party color|Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal}}}}

|{{no2|Opposition}}

|-

| style="background:#A47A7E;" |

| colspan="2" |HIWAR

|Youth interests
Social conservatism

|Right-wing

|Valle Mint Mini

|{{Composition bar|1|157|#A47A7E}}

|{{partial2|External support}}

|-

| style="background:#0605DD;" |

| colspan="2" |El Islah

|Populism
Reformism

|Centre

|Mohamed Ould Talebna

|{{Composition bar|1|157|#0605DD}}

|{{partial2|External support}}

|}

In July 2022 the UPR rebranded itself as the Equity Party (El Insaf), electing Minister of Education and government spokesperson Mohamed Melainine Ould Eyih as president of the party,{{cite news|url=http://alakhbar.info/?q=node/41396|title=ولد أييه رئيسا للحزب الحاكم بعد تغيير اسمه وشعاره |trans-title=Ould Eiye [is the] president of the governing party after its name and symbol change |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=3 July 2022 |access-date=4 July 2022}} with him leaving the cabinet shortly after to focus on leading the party.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Mauritanie : remaniement ministériel partiel et permutations |trans-title=Mauritania: partial ministerial reshuffle and permutations |url=https://fr.saharamedias.net/mauritanie-remaniement-ministeriel-partiel-et-permutations/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=SaharaMedias |language=fr}}

On 5 October 2022 the Union for Planning and Construction (UPC), until then a member of the Coordination of Parties of the Majority, decided to form a coalition with four political movements that were not allowed to be registered as political parties, forming the State of Justice Coalition, which would run under the UPC party label.{{cite news |url=https://alakhbar.info/?q=node/43264 |title=الإعلان عن ائتلاف سياسي جديد يدعى "ائتلاف دولة العدل" |trans-title=Announcing a new political coalition called "The State of Justice Coalition" |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=5 October 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022}}

On 22 December 2022, Hope Mauritania was presented as a left-leaning opposition alliance which was joined by several major politicians, including ex-MP Kadiata Malick Diallo (ex-UFP) and MPs Mohamed Lemine Ould Sidi Maouloud (ex-Choura) and Elid Ould Mohameden (RFD).{{cite news |url=https://www.saharamedias.net/200298-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1/ |title= تحالف أمل موريتانيا: الوضعُ خطير والنظام فاشل والانتخابات مغامرة |trans-title=Hope Mauritania Coalition: The situation is dangerous, the regime is a failure, and the elections are an adventure |newspaper=SaharaMedias |lang=ar |date=23 December 2022 |access-date=25 December 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://amp.mr/?q=node/5128 |title=تحالف أمل موريتانيا: تنظيم انتخابات محلية بأي ثمن يدخل في نطاق المغامرة |trans-title=Hope Mauritania Coalition: Organizing local elections at any cost is part of the adventure |newspaper=Mauritanian Agency for Press |lang=ar |date=23 December 2022 |access-date=25 December 2022}}

On 25 December 2022, Tewassoul chose MP for Kiffa Hamadi Ould Sidi Mokhtar as the new party leader, replacing Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Seyidi.{{cite news |url=https://www.saharamedias.net/200425-%d8%a5%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%88-%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%8a%d8%ae%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%86-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%a7-%d8%ac%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%af/ |title=إسلاميو موريتانيا يختارون رئيسا جديدا لحزبهم |trans-title=Mauritanian Islamists choose a new president for their party |newspaper=SaharaMedias |lang=ar |date=25 December 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}}

Private TV channel El Mourabitoun organised several television debates for candidates and representatives of major parties to talk about the election and its campaign and to debate about electoral issues.

{{clear}}

Polling stations opened at 7AM local time (GMT).{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47444 |title=الموريتانيون يبدأون التصويت في الانتخابات التشريعية والمحلية |trans-title=Mauritanians begin voting in legislative and local elections |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}} Armed and security forces voted on the same day as the rest of eligible voters, breaking an old tradition of them voting the day before the scrutiny.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47449 |title=أفراد القوات المسلحة وقوات الأمن يدلون بأصواتهم |trans-title=Members of the armed forces and security forces cast their votes |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}} An election observation mission was sent by the African Union.{{cite news |url=https://www.ami.mr/archives/161358 |title=وزير الداخلية يطلع بعثة الاتحاد الافريقي على التدابير المتخذة لاجراء الانتخابات في ظروف مرضية |trans-title=The Minister Of The Interior Informs The African Union Mission Of The Measures Taken To Conduct The Elections In Satisfactory Conditions |language=ar |newspaper=AMI (Mauritania News Agency) |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

Voting was stopped on at least three polling stations in Magta Lahjar after a grievance was submitted by El Insaf due to ballots missing for the local elections in these polling stations.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47449 |title=أفراد القوات توقف التصويت بمكاتب بمكطع الحجار بعد تظلم من حزب الإنصاف |trans-title=Voting stopped in offices in Magta Lahjar after a complaint from El Insaf party |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

Tewassoul asked for voting to be stopped in four polling stations in a village of Boutilimit and the dismissal of the head of the National Independent Election Commission (CENI) in the department of Boutlimit. In a statement, the party said it was "surprised" by the replacement of the heads of the four offices, "after the spread of audio clips of the head of CENI's branch in Boutilimit, directed by some of the activists and leaders of El Insaf in the department". The party pointed out that "under these suspicious changes, the head of El Insaf's youth wing in Boutilimit was appointed head of one of the four polling stations, while the remaining three appointed are activists known for their relations with the leadership of El Insaf and influential military figures, unlike the heads of the polling stations who remained accredited until yesterday [12 May] afternoon".{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47449 |title=تواصل يطالب بإلغاء نتائج 4 مكاتب بمقاطعة بوتلميت |trans-title=Tewassoul demands the cancellation of the results of 4 polling stations in the department of Boutilimit |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

Polling stations closed at 7PM local time, with polling stations that opened late being opened for the same duration of the delay. Both parties in government and opposition parties complained about the voting process, with Tewassoul's leader qualifying the election as "messy" and "disorganised"; while El Insaf also insisted on them being affected by the delays and some of their representatives being prevented from entering polling stations.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47468 |title=على وقع شكوى من كل الأطراف.. انتهاء فترة التصويت في الانتخابات |trans-title=With complaints from all parties... the end of the voting period in the elections |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}} Meanwhile, the National Independent Election Commission praised the election for being conducted in a "calm and responsible atmosphere", insisting that there were no significant incidents that could impact the results or the credibility of the election.{{cite news |url=https://www.ami.mr/archives/161567 |title=“المستقلة للانتخابات”: الموريتانيون عبروا عن خياراتهم في جو من الهدوء والتنافس المسؤول |trans-title=CENI: Mauritanians Expressed Their Choices In An Atmosphere Of Calm And Responsible Competition |language=ar |newspaper=AMI (Mauritania News Agency) |date=14 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

CENI announced during the scrutiny of votes that it detected the manipulation of the results of the El Mina department of Nouakchott where some votes were transferred from the null and neutral cards to a particular candidate, confirming that the matter had been corrected, and judicial procedures had taken its course after a candidate complained about the results and an inner investigation was launched.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47613 |title=لجنة الانتخابات: حصل تلاعب في نتائج الميناء وصحح وأحيل للقضاء |trans-title=Election Commission: There was a manipulation of the results of El Mina, which were corrected and referred to the judiciary |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

{{More|Results breakdown of the 2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election|10th National Assembly of Mauritania}}

El Insaf secured a majority in the National Assembly and increased its national list vote percentage, in part due to the smaller number of parties contesting this election.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-22 |title=Mauritania's ruling party wins parliamentary elections |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20230522-ruling-party-wins-parliament-election-in-mauritania |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=RFI |language=en}} The party was forced into several runoffs and did not sweep into all constituencies elected through a general ticket as in 2018. The opposition saw a complete restructuring, with the left-wing UFP, the centre-left RFD and the APP, which represents Haratine interests, losing all of their seats in the National Assembly, with the left-leaning Hope Mauritania replaced them as the hegemonic left-wing opposition.

{{Election results

|image=File:MauritaniaElection2023.svg

|firstround=National mixed list|secondround=National women's list|thirdround=National youth list|seattype1=Districts|seattype2=Total|seattype3=+/−

|party1=El Insaf|votes1=342153|seats1=7|votes1_2=329354|seats1_2=7|votes1_3=333398|seats1_3=4|st1t1=89|st2t1=107|st3t1=+14

|party2=National Rally for Reform and Development|votes2=99431|seats2=2|votes2_2=103363|seats2_2=2|votes2_3=103056|seats2_3=1|st1t2=6|st2t2=11|st3t2=−3

|party3=Union for Democracy and Progress|votes3=58823|seats3=1|votes3_2=59397|seats3_2=1|votes3_3=58983|seats3_3=1|st1t3=7|st2t3=10|st3t3=+4

|party4=Sawab and allies|votes4=39807|seats4=1|votes4_2=38546|seats4_2=1|votes4_3=38480|seats4_3=1|st1t4=2|st2t4=5|st3t4=+2|colour4={{party colour|Democratic Alternation Pole}}

|party5=Republican Front for Unity and Democracy and allies|votes5=32296|seats5=1|votes5_2=35722|seats5_2=1|votes5_3=33847|seats5_3=1|st1t5=4|st2t5=7|st3t5=New

|party6=National Democratic Alliance|votes6=32027|seats6=1|votes6_2=26312|seats6_2=1|votes6_3=29143|seats6_3=1|st1t6=3|st2t6=6|st3t6=+2

|party7=El Islah|votes7=31877|seats7=1|votes7_2=33314|seats7_2=1|votes7_3=32946|seats7_3=1|st1t7=3|st2t7=6|st3t7=+5

|party8=Mauritanian Party of Union and Change|votes8=28124|seats8=1|votes8_2=32660|seats8_2=1|votes8_3=31988|seats8_3=1|st1t8=0|st2t8=3|st3t8=+2

|party9=El Karama|votes9=25437|seats9=1|votes9_2=23592|seats9_2=1|votes9_3=24318|seats9_3=0|st1t9=3|st2t9=5|st3t9=−1

|party10=Nida El Watan|votes10=24268|seats10=1|votes10_2=25020|seats10_2=1|votes10_3=25316|seats10_3=0|st1t10=3|st2t10=5|st3t10=+5

|party11=Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal and allies|votes11=21163|seats11=1|votes11_2=19550|seats11_2=1|votes11_3=19666|seats11_3=0|st1t11=2|st2t11=4|st3t11=+3

|party12=Party of Conciliation and Prosperity|votes12=20208|seats12=1|votes12_2=20053|seats12_2=1|votes12_3=18539|seats12_3=0|st1t12=1|st2t12=3|st3t12=+2

|party13=Party of the Mauritanian Masses|votes13=20206|seats13=1|votes13_2=13901|seats13_2=0|votes13_3=11218|seats13_3=0|st1t13=0|st2t13=1|st3t13=+1

|party14=Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal|votes14=19110|seats14=0|votes14_2=15880|seats14_2=0|votes14_3=15291|seats14_3=0|st1t14=0|st2t14=0|st3t14=0

|party15=Union of the Forces of Progress|votes15=17387|seats15=0|votes15_2=16379|seats15_2=0|votes15_3=15709|seats15_3=0|st1t15=0|st2t15=0|st3t15=−3

|party16=El Vadila|votes16=17303|seats16=0|votes16_2=20589|seats16_2=1|votes16_3=16850|seats16_3=0|st1t16=1|st2t16=2|st3t16=+2

|party17=Party of Unity and Development|votes17=16134|seats17=0|votes17_2=15608|seats17_2=0|votes17_3=18950|seats17_3=0|st1t17=0|st2t17=0|st3t17=0

|party18=Union for Planning and Building and allies|votes18=15028|seats18=0|votes18_2=16550|seats18_2=0|votes18_3=25089|seats18_3=0|st1t18=1|st2t18=1|st3t18=+1|color18={{party colour|State of Justice Coalition}}

|party19=Rally of Democratic Forces|votes19=14648|seats19=0|votes19_2=12040|seats19_2=0|votes19_3=13937|seats19_3=0|st1t19=0|st2t19=0|st3t19=−3

|party20=Burst of Youth for the Nation|votes20=14345|seats20=0|votes20_2=10374|seats20_2=0|votes20_3=10728|seats20_3=0|st1t20=0|st2t20=0|st3t20=−3

|party21=El Ravah|votes21=13858|seats21=0|votes21_2=13838|seats21_2=0|votes21_3=16224|seats21_3=0|st1t21=0|st2t21=0|st3t21=0

|party22=People's Progressive Alliance|votes22=12115|seats22=0|votes22_2=13123|seats22_2=0|votes22_3=12553|seats22_3=0|st1t22=0|st2t22=0|st3t22=−3

|party23=National Cohesion for Rights and the Construction of Generations|votes23=10420|seats23=0|votes23_2=13532|seats23_2=0|votes23_3=10437|seats23_3=0|st1t23=0|st2t23=0|st3t23=0

|party24=Party of Construction and Progress|votes24=9281|seats24=0|votes24_2=10628|seats24_2=0|votes24_3=6052|seats24_3=0|st1t24=0|st2t24=0|st3t24=0

|party25=Centre through Action for Progress|votes25=8813|seats25=0|votes25_2=10699|seats25_2=0|votes25_3=13294|seats25_3=0|st1t25=0|st2t25=0|st3t25=New

|row26=Blank votes|votes26=26291|votes26_2=28138|votes26_3=27120

|total_st3t=+19

|invalid=308433|invalid2=319673|invalid3=314128

|electorate=1786448|electorate2=1786448|electorate3=1786448

|source=National Independent Election Commission (CENI){{cite web |url=https://res-myceni.org |title=My CENI Résultats 2023 |language=ar,fr |website=res-myceni.org |publisher=National Independent Election Commission |access-date=2023-06-01}}

}}

File:2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election - Winner per wilaya (national list, simple).svg|Winner per wilaya (national list vote).

Hope Mauritania endorsed the rest of opposition parties qualified in the runoff (Tewassoul, Sawab+, AJD/MR+).{{cite news |url=https://essahraa.net/fr/node/11082 |title="Espoir Mauritanie" soutiendra les listes d'opposition en ballotage |trans-title="Hope Mauritania" will support the opposition lists in the runoff |language=fr |newspaper=Essahraa Centre for Studies and Consultations |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani welcomed the results.

The opposition called for elections to be repeated in Nouakchott and Boutilimit due to "massive fraud", calling for nationwide protests on 25 May.{{cite news |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/05/22/triple-scrutin-en-mauritanie-large-victoire-du-parti-au-pouvoir_6174315_3212.html |title=Triple scrutin en Mauritanie : large victoire du parti au pouvoir |trans-title=Triple election in Mauritania: large victory for the ruling party |language=fr |newspaper=Le Monde |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://cridem.org/C_Info.php?article=765633 |title=Mauritanie/Elections : L’opposition organise, jeudi, prochain un meeting de protestation |trans-title=Mauritania / Elections: The opposition is organizing a protest meeting next Thursday |language=fr |newspaper=CRIDEM |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}} The opposition also announced their intention to form a committee to jointly file appeals on the election results and warned that the "current electoral crisis", if not dealt with wisely and quickly in a consultative framework, would turn into a political one.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47615 |title=المعارضة تقرر العودة للشارع وتحذر من تحول أزمة الانتخابات لأزمة سياسية |trans-title=The opposition decides to return to the street and warns that the election crisis will turn into a political crisis |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

On the other side, parties belonging to the Coordination of Parties of the Majority, supportive of President Ghazouani, and other unaligned parties signed a petition demanding the immediate halt of the counting process and a complete repeat election nationwide due to the alleged "violations" the parties monitored and that "have characterized all the course of this process, from the first moments of the electoral census".{{cite news |url=http://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47575 |title=أحزاب الأغلبية تطالب بوقف الفرز فورا وإعادة الانتخابات بشكل عام |trans-title=Parties of the majority demand an immediate end to the counting and a general re-election |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=17 May 2023 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

Leader of the Democratic Alternation Coalition and re-elected deputy for Sawab+ Biram Dah Abeid was arrested on 24 May{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47686 |title=الشرطة توقف النائب البرلماني بيرام الداه اعبيدي |trans-title=The police arrested the deputy Biram Dah Abeid |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=24 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} after he declared that if the results of the elections are accepted, then "the free Mauritanians will carry weapons against the current regime" during a political rally the day before. He also said in his speech that he was "committed to peace" but that he "wouldn't lie to the Mauritanian people" and that "election fraud was the reason the army couped former president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya".{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47681 |title=ولد اعبيدي: إذا اعتمدت انتخابات 13 مايو فسيحمل أحرار موريتانيا السلاح (فيديو) |trans-title=Ould Abeid: If the May 13 elections are adopted, the free of Mauritania will bear arms (video) |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}

The arrest was condemned by opposition parties RAG,{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47716 |title=ولد يالي: بيرام الداه اعبيد لم يكن يوما يريد الفتنة |trans-title=Ould Yali: Biram Dah Abeid has never wanted conflict |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} Sawab,{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47693 |title=حزب الصواب يدين "التوقيف الظالم" لولد اعبيدي ويطالب بإطلاق سراحه |trans-title=Sawab condemns the "unjust arrest" of Ould Abeid and demands his release |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} Hope Mauritania,{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47701 |title="أمل موريتانيا" يندد باعتقال ولد اعبيدي ويطالب بإطلاق سراحه |trans-title=Hope Mauritania denounces the arrest of Ould Abeid and demands his release |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} the Union of the Forces of Progress,{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47703 |title=المعارضة: اعتقال بيرام الداه اعبيد زيادة غير مسبوقة في حالة الاحتقان |trans-title=Opposition: Biram Dah Abeid's arrest is an unprecedented increase in congestion |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} the Rally of Democratic Forces, and the People's Progressive Alliance.

A protest was held in front of the Security Department by members and supporters of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, which Dah Abeid heads.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47691 |title=أنصار "إيرا" يحتجون أمام إدارة الأمن عقب استدعاء بيرام الداه اعبيد (فيدبو) |trans-title=IRA supporters protest in front of the Security Department after Biram Dah Abeid was summoned (video) |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=24 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}} The protest saw the arrest of another elected deputy (Aminetou El Hacen Boughel, elected on the youth national list for Sawab+), Dah Abeid's wife and a number of activists and protestors.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47696 |title=الشرطة توقف زوجة ولد اعبيدي وعددا من أنصاره |trans-title=The police arrests the wife of Ould Abeid and a number of his supporters |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=24 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}

Sawab's leader and his deputy were allowed to visit Dah Abeid during his arrest in a police station in Dar Naïm, while his wife and his lawyesrs denounced that they weren't allowed to visit him.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47709 |title=قادة بحزب الصواب يلتقون رئيس (إيرا) بمركز شرطة في دار النعيم |trans-title=Leaders of the Sawab party meet the head of IRA at a police station in Dar Naïm |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47705 |title=دفاع ولد اعبيدي: الأمن منعنا من لقاء موكلنا وهواتف النيابة مغلقة |trans-title=Ould Abedi's defense: Security prevented us from meeting our client, and the prosecutor's phones were closed |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}

The spokesperson of the Mauritanian government justified Dah Abeid's arrest saying that his words "crossed a line" and that "no one is above the law, everyone is equal before the law, and the government's task is to apply the law equally to everyone".{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47699 |title=الحكومة: مهمتنا ضمان أمن المواطن في عموم البلاد ولا أحد فوق القانون |trans-title=Government: Our mission is to ensure the security of the citizen throughout the country and no one is above the law |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=24 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}

Biram Dah Abeid was released after two days of arrest on 26 May, with him returning to his house in Riyadh, Nouakchott. He declared after his release that he expected to be detained until after the 2024 presidential election as part of an operation to "prevent a peaceful transfer of power" and that his arrest was done to thwart or disrupt the opposition rally held on 25 May. He said that he would continue to "fight peacefully" but that he was not going to stop from "alerting Mauritanians of the risks facing the country".{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/47726 |title=إطلاق سراح النائب البرلماني بيرام الداه اعبيدي |trans-title=Deputy Biram Dah Abeid was released |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=26 May 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023}}

{{More|10th National Assembly of Mauritania}}

The election of the President of the National Assembly took place on 19 June 2023. Mohamed Bemba Meguett was elected president in the first round.{{cite news |url=https://www.alakhbar.info/?q=node/48153 |title=انتخاب ولد مكت رئيسا للبرلمان الموريتاني الجديد |trans-title=Election of Ould Meguett as President of the new Mauritanian Parliament |language=ar |newspaper=AlAkhbar.info |date=2023-06-19 |access-date=2023-06-19}}

Five political parties were legally deregistered on 19 October 2023 after failing to obtain 1% in two consecutive local elections.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-19 |title=حل خمسة أحزاب سياسية.. منها الحزب الأطول حكمًا للبلاد |trans-title=Five political parties were dissolved, including the longest-ruling party in the country |url=https://saharamedias.net/216369/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |newspaper=SaharaMedias |language=ar}} The parties were:

• Party of the Mauritanian Masses (PMM), holding one deputy and two regional councillours;
• Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal (PRDR), holding one regional councillour;
• Burst of Youth for the Nation (PSJN), holding one regional councillour;
• National Cohesion for Rights and the Construction of Generations (Ribat), holding three regional councillours;
• Party of Construction and Progress (PCP), holding no national or regional elected office.

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist}}

{{2023 elections in Mauritania}}

{{Mauritanian elections}}

Parlianmentary

Mauritania

Category:Parliamentary elections in Mauritania

Category:May 2023 in Africa