1970 Lesotho general election

1970 Lesotho general election

27-28 January 1970
60 seats in the National Assembly 31 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Ntsu Mokhehle Leabua Jonathan Seth Makotoko Party BCP BNP MFP Last election 40.04%, 25 seats 42.01%, 31 seats 15.70%, 4 seats Seats won 36 23 1 Seat change 11 8 3 Popular vote 152,907 129,434 22,279 Percentage 49.88% 42.23% 7.27% Swing 9.84pp 0.22pp 8.43pp
Prime Minister before election Leabua Jonathan BNP Elected Prime Minister Coup d'état

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General elections were held in Lesotho on 27 and 28 January 1970, the first since independence in 1966. They were won by the opposition Basutoland Congress Party.^[1] However, without announcing the results, the ruling Basotho National Party carried out a coup d'état by declaring a state of emergency, annulling the election, dissolving parliament and suspending the constitution.^[2] King Moshoeshoe II was sent into exile after expressing disapproval of the actions.^[2]

Leabua Jonathan then ruled the country as a dictator until 1986 when a military coup d'état led by Major General Justin Lekhanya deposed him. Lesotho did not return to democratic rule until the 1993 elections, which were again won by the BCP in a landslide victory.

Results

Official results were never published, but figures were made available by election observers.^[3]

References