Former Ivorian PM, Soro, elected National assembly president

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (PANA) – The former Prime minister of Côte d'Ivoire, Guillaume Soro, was Monday elected speaker of the National Assembly with 236 votes or 94.77% of the votes cast at Yamoussoukro, the country's political and administrative capital city.

The election of Soro, who was the only candidate, came after he resigned as Prime Minister on Thursday when official results from December's legislative elections were finally issued.

He was the candidate of the ruling Rally for Republicans (RDR) party.

The position of Deputy Speaker went to female MP, Mrs. Sarah Sako Fadiga, also of the ruling party.

The RDR now controls 138 of parliament's 253 seats, while the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (PDCI) of former president Konan Bedie, a Ouattara ally, holds 86 seats.

The Union for Democracy and Peace (UDPCI) holds eight seats, the Movement of the Forces of the Future (MFA) holds three, and the Union for the Ivory Coast (UPCI) one seat.

The remaining 17 seats are held by independent candidates.
-0- PANA GB/AAS/IBA/PAP/VAO 12March2012