Politics
Contents
Political structure
- Formal Structure: Constitutional monarchy
- Legal system: Based on Roman-Dutch law
National legislature
- Bicameral parliament
- 80 members of the National Assembly (the lower house) are elected on a constituency basis in the terms of the 1993 constitution
- 40 members are elected by proportional representation;
- The Senate (the upper house) consists of 33 non-elected members, 11 of whom are nominated by the king on the advice of the prime minister, plus the 22 principal chiefs of Lesotho
National elections
A snap election was held in June 2017, meaning that the next general election is scheduled for 2022
Head of state
- Monarch; the succession is governed by custom;
- King Letsie III was sworn in on February 7th 1996 and crowned on October 31st 1997
National government
- Prime minister and a 27-member cabinet appointed in June 2017
Main political parties
- Party-political organisations were legalised in May 1991.
- The ruling coalition consists of four parties:
- The All Basotho Convention (ABC)
- The Alliance of Democrats (AD)
- The Basotho National Party (BNP)
- The Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL)
- The main opposition parties are
- The Democratic Congress (DC)
- The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD)
- The Movement for Economic Change (MEC)
- A total of 30 parties contested the 2017 election, and seven seats in parliament are occupied by smaller organisations.
Key ministers
- Prime minister: Thomas Thabane
- Deputy prime minister, minister for parliamentary affairs: Monyane Moleleki
- Agriculture & food security: Nthabiseng Makoae
- Communications, science & technology: Thelese Maseribane
- Defence & national security: Sentje Lebona
- Development planning: Tlohelang Aumane
- Education & training: Ntoi Rapapa
- Employment & labour: Keketso Rants’o
- Energy: Mokoto Hloaele
- Finance: Moeketsi Majoro
- Foreign affairs: Lesego Makgothi
- Forestry: Mamotsie Motsie
- Health: Nkaku Kabi
- Home affairs: Tsukutlane Au
- Justice, human rights & correctional services: Mokhele Moletsane
- Mining: Keketso Sello
- Police & public safety: Mampho Mokhele
- Public service: Joang Molapo
- Public works & transport: Maliehe Prince Maliehe
- Social development: Matebatso Doti
- Tourism, arts & culture: Motlohi Maliehe
- Trade & industry: Tefo Mapesela
Central bank governor
- Retselisitsoe Matlanyane
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