Around 3,000 candidates ran in the 45 provincial constituencies, with 74 parties and electoral alliances competed for the 16 national seats [REF].
Other minor parties emphasized ideological connections to Thomas Sankara, Compaore's predecessor,[REF] with four parties considering themselves Sankarist, including the National Council for Rebirth-Sankarist Movement, Pan-African Union for Sankarism-Progressive Movement, Union for Democratic Rebirth-Sankarist Movement and the Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement [REF].