Guinean presidential election, 2003
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Guinea
on 21 December 2003. Incumbent Lansana Conté
won over 95.6% of the vote after most opposition parties boycotted the election
.
Conté ran for another seven-year term despite serious health problems, including diabetes, which caused some to doubt his ability to continue as President. He was unanimously nominated as the candidate of the ruling Unity and Progress Party
(PUP) in September 2003, but he said that he would not participate in campaigning. Demands from the Republican Front for Democratic Change (FRAD) opposition coalition concerning the creation of an independent electoral commission and access to state media were unfulfilled by the government, and consequently all the major opposition leaders chose to boycott the election.
Although the main opposition politicians chose to boycott, six others tried to run but saw their candidacies rejected due to technicalities. Aside from Conté, only one candidate was permitted to run: Mamadou Bhoye Barry of the Union for National Progress. Barry was known as a supporter and friend of Conté; as a veterinarian, he also cared for Conté's livestock. Despite his failing health, Conté was officially certified as being medically fit to stand as a candidate.
With no serious opposition, Conté was re-elected by an overwhelming margin. Turnout was officially placed at 86%, despite the opposition boycott and lack of competition; however, FRAD claimed that turnout was actually less than 15%. Conté was sworn in for his new seven-year term on 19 January 2004 and vowed to fight corruption in a television broadcast on the occasion.
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
on 21 December 2003. Incumbent Lansana Conté
Lansana Conté
Lansana Conté was the second President of Guinea from 3 April 1984 until his death. He was a Muslim and a member of the Susu ethnic group.-Early life:...
won over 95.6% of the vote after most opposition parties boycotted the election
Election boycott
An election boycott is the boycotting of an election by a group of voters, each of whom abstains from voting.Boycotting may be used as a form of political protest where voters feel that electoral fraud is likely, or that the electoral system is biased against its candidates, or that the polity...
.
Conté ran for another seven-year term despite serious health problems, including diabetes, which caused some to doubt his ability to continue as President. He was unanimously nominated as the candidate of the ruling Unity and Progress Party
Unity and Progress Party
The Unity and Progress Party is a political party in Guinea. It was the ruling party during the long rule of President Lansana Conté.In the parliamentary election held on 30 June, 2002, the party won 61.57 % of the popular vote and 85 out of 114 seats...
(PUP) in September 2003, but he said that he would not participate in campaigning. Demands from the Republican Front for Democratic Change (FRAD) opposition coalition concerning the creation of an independent electoral commission and access to state media were unfulfilled by the government, and consequently all the major opposition leaders chose to boycott the election.
Although the main opposition politicians chose to boycott, six others tried to run but saw their candidacies rejected due to technicalities. Aside from Conté, only one candidate was permitted to run: Mamadou Bhoye Barry of the Union for National Progress. Barry was known as a supporter and friend of Conté; as a veterinarian, he also cared for Conté's livestock. Despite his failing health, Conté was officially certified as being medically fit to stand as a candidate.
With no serious opposition, Conté was re-elected by an overwhelming margin. Turnout was officially placed at 86%, despite the opposition boycott and lack of competition; however, FRAD claimed that turnout was actually less than 15%. Conté was sworn in for his new seven-year term on 19 January 2004 and vowed to fight corruption in a television broadcast on the occasion.