AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Lesotho's February 2015 snap elections: a prescription that never cured the sickness |
| Author: | Letsie, Tlohang W. |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Periodical: | Journal of African Elections (ISSN 1609-4700) |
| Volume: | 14 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pages: | 81-109 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Lesotho |
| Subjects: | elections 2015 coalitions national security political stability rule of law |
| Abstract: | Within just two years of its existence, Lesotho's first coalition government experienced serious internal conflicts. These conflicts were mainly the result of the coalition leaders' failure to balance coalition agreements against the country's Constitution. The conflicts paralyzed the government and the National Assembly, and polarized security establishments. These political developments required mediation by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which in turn led to holding 'snap elections' in February 2015. This paper discusses the snap elections. Although the elections helped to form and legitimize a new coalition government, they did not resolve the structural challenges that had paralyzed the first coalition government. By calling for an early election, SADC mediation failed to prioritize a solution to the security crisis in Lesotho. Security agencies remain polarized, and some politicians have aligned themselves with those agencies to enhance their influence in national politics. The paper concludes that the snap elections provided only a short-term solution to Lesotho's political and security problems. The new coalition government is likely to experience the same fate as its predecessor. Furthermore, rule of law is likely to be compromised by the new coalition government for the sake of internal stability. Bibliogr., note, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |
