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Guineans Ready to Elect New Leader, Says Analyst

   Peter Clottey 28 July 2010
   Candidate  for  the  Guinean presidency Cellou Dalein Diallo smiles to
   the crowd, 27 Jun 2010

Photo: AFP

   Candidate  for  the  Guinean presidency Cellou Dalein Diallo smiles to
   the crowd, 27 Jun 2010

   The  president of Guineaâs Research Institute on Democracy and Rule of
   Law,  a  non-governmental  organization,  said  Guineans are anxiously
   waiting  to  vote after the electoral commission proposed 14^th August
   as the date for the presidential election run-off.

   Attorney  Thierno  Balde said Guineaâs transitional President-General,
   Sekouba  Konate,  will  now  have to sign a decree before the proposed
   date becomes official for the election run-off.

   Guineaâs  Electoral  Commission  (CNE) proposed the date after holding
   discussions with the two presidential aspirants. Former Prime Minister
   Cellou  Dalein  Diallo  and  Alpha  Conde will contest in the election
   run-off vote.

   âThe CNE had been organizing several meetings in the last days to find
   out  exactly  when  they  will be able to carry out the elections. So,
   they decided on the date (14^th August) and they need to send the date
   to the President of the Transition, General Sekouba Konate, so that he
   can call the elections by decree,â Balde said.

   Under   Guineaâs  constitution,  only  the  two  leading  presidential
   candidates  in the first round of the 27^th June election are eligible
   to participate in the run-off vote.

   Former  Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, who won the most votes in
   the  first  round  election,  signed a deal Wednesday with third-place
   finisher Sidya Toure.

   The  agreement  stipulates that Mr. Toure's Union of Republican Forces
   (UFR)  party  is promised the post of prime minister and 30 percent of
   all cabinet positions should Mr. Diallo win a second-round election.

   Sixth-place finisher Ibrahima Abe Sylla, the candidate of Guineaâs New
   Generation  for  the  Republic  Party and the former ruling PUP party,
   also signed the agreement to support Mr. Diallo.

   Attorney  Balde  said,  despite  placing  second,  a  lot of political
   parties  see  the  prospects  of the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG)
   attractive  enough to enter into an alliance with Alpha Conde ahead of
   the vote.

   âSo  far,  some  14  parties have reached agreement with Alpha Condeâs
   RPG.  And,  there  are  some  other  parties  which  have entered into
   agreement  with the UFDG (Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea) of Mr.
   Cellou Dalein Diallo,â Balde said.

   Last  week,  Guinea's  Supreme Court upheld the preliminary results of
   the  27th  June  first-round  vote,  ruling Mr. Diallo won 44 percent,
   followed by longtime opposition leader Alpha Conde with 18 percent.

   The  ruling  paves  the way for the second-round which will see Guinea
   return  to  constitutional rule after the military took over 18 months
   ago following the death of long time President Lansana Conte.

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