With almost half of the votes already counted results show the ruling party will have at least 50 seats out of 75 available in the party-list, proportional contest.
According to these initial results only four political groups have managed to clear the 5% threshold needed to endorse MP candidates through the proportional, party-list system.
The ruling party leads with 61.6%, followed by the nine-party opposition bloc with 14.9%; the Christian-Democratic Party – 7.9%; the Labor Party – 6.7%.
If confirmed with final results, that would mean that the ruling National Movement Party will take about 52 seats through the proportional system and the nine-party opposition bloc only about 11; followed by the newly set up Christian-Democratic Party- up to 7 seats and Labor Party – 5 seats.
Remaining 75 seats are contested in the majoritarian MP elections in single-mandate constituencies. The ruling party needs to endorse its majoritarian MP candidates in at least 50 single-mandate constituencies to secure two-third majority, which is a constitutional majority in the new 150-seat parliament. The ruling party seems to win most of the single-mandate constituencies.
The opposition said that election were held in “intimidation, pressure and violence” exerted by the authorities.
Voter turnout, according to the Central Election Commission, was 55% meaning that 1,905,960 voters have cast their ballots out of total 3,465,736.