General elections were held in the Central African Republic on March 13, 2005 to elect the President and National Assembly. A second round was held for both elections on May 8, marking the end of the transitional process that began with the seizure of power by François Bozizé in a March 2003 coup, overthrowing President Ange-Félix Patassé. A new constitution was approved in a referendum in December 2004 and took effect the same month. The presidential elections saw Bozizé attempt to win a five-year term after two years as transitional leader, alongside ten other candidates, with Patassé excluded from running. As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff was held between Bozizé and former Prime Minister Martin Ziguélé, resulting in a victory for Bozizé, who received 64.6% of the vote. He was inaugurated on 11 June. In the simultaneous parliamentary elections, the National Convergence "Kwa Na Kwa" party emerged as the largest in the National Assembly, winning 42 of the 105 seats, whilst the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People emerged as the second-largest party with 12 seats. Background The elections had originally been planned for December 2004 or January 2005, with the election date announced on August 28, 2004: January 30, 2005, with a run-off date of February 27. The elections were, however, subsequently delayed to February 13 by a decree of president Bozizé in mid-December 2004. In late January 2005, they were delayed further by one month to March 13. They were held on this date, and the second round of the elections, initially scheduled for May 1, took place on May 8. Candidates After taking power with the seizure of the capital, Bangui, on March 15, 2003, Bozizé said that his rule was a transitional period, and that he would step down at the end of the transition. In 2004, however, speculation increased that he intended to run in the presidential election that would mark the end of the transition, with many of his supporters calling on him to run. Eventually, following a referendum on a new constitution on December 5, 2004, Bozizé announced his candidacy in the presidential election as an independent candidate on December 11, 2004, while speaking to supporters. He cited what he considered the will of the people in his decision: After thinking thoroughly, and being deeply convinced and keeping in mind the