An indirect Senate election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 5 August 2008. 42 of the 72 seats in the Senate were at stake in this election, with six elected from each of seven departments. The Senate was expanded by six members at the time of this election to account for the creation of Pointe-Noire Department. The senators were elected by councillors who were in turn elected in

local elections In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary ...

on June 29, 2008. A presidential decree on July 24, 2008, stated that an electoral college to elect senators from seven departments—Pointe-Noire, Niari, Lekoumou, Pool, Plateaux, Cuvette West, and Likouala—would meet on August 5. In the election, there were a total of 133 candidates across the six departments where the election was being held. 33 candidates of the

Rally of the Presidential Majority Rally or rallye may refer to: Gatherings * Demonstration (political), a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade * Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting event Sports ...

(RMP), which supports President

Denis Sassou Nguesso Denis Sassou Nguesso (born 23 November 1943) is a Congolese politician and former military officer. He became president of the Republic of the Congo in 1997. He served a previous term as president from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as ...

, were elected to the Senate, in addition to seven independent candidates and two candidates of the opposition

Pan-African Union for Social Democracy The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (french: Union panafricaine pour la démocratie sociale, UPADS) is a political party in the Republic of the Congo headed by Pascal Lissouba, who was President from 1992 to 1997. It has been the country ...

(UPADS). Following the election, the Senate met on August 12, 2008, and elected its bureau. In the vote, conducted by secret ballot, a single list of candidates was presented and approved. André Obami Itou was re-elected as President of the Senate,

Benjamin Bounkoulou Benjamin Bounkoulou (born 25 September 1942"Bounkoulou Benjamin", ''Congo Brazzaville: Les Hommes de Pouvoir'', number 1Africa Intelligence 29 October 2002 .) is a Congolese politician who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister ...

was re-elected as First Vice-president, and Vincent Ganga was elected to the previously vacant post of Second Vice-president. Philomène Fouti Soungou was elected as First Secretary and Dominique Lekoyi was elected as Second Secretary."Renouvellement du bureau du Sénat : Vincent Ganga et Dominique Lekoyi montent au perchoir"
, ''Les Dépêches de Brazzaville'', August 12, 2008 .

References

{{Republic of the Congo Senate elections Elections in the Republic of the Congo Congo, Republic Election, Senate