Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, elects on national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature.
The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 225 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies.
Côte d'Ivoire is a one party dominant state with the RHDP in power.
Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.
Following a peace deal between the government and former rebels in March 2007, the next elections were planned for early 2008.