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Election Observer Calls for Patience During Guinea Vote Counting

   Peter Clottey 27 June 2010
   People  walk  in  front  of posters for the presidential elections and
   instructions on the voting card, Conakry, 25 Jun 2010

Photo: AFP

   People  walk  in  front  of posters for the presidential elections and
   instructions on the voting card, Conakry, 25 Jun 2010

   The  co-chairman  of the U.S.-based Carter Center poll monitoring team
   has  called  on  Guineaâs  political parties to patiently wait for the
   Independent  Electoral Commission (CENI) to declare the results of the
   presidential election before taking any action.

   John Stremlau, Vice President for Peace Programs at the Carter Center,
   said  Guineaâs  constitution stipulates that the electoral body has 72
   hours to declare the final results of Sundayâs vote.

   âThey  are going to be posting them [results] at the polling stations,
   and  it  could  come  very quickly, but we are not sure. They have not
   done this procedure. This is the first open election in the history of
   Guinea.  So,  all  we  know  is, under the constitution, the CENI, the
   electoral  commission,  has  to deliver results within 72 hours of the
   closing of the polls,â he said.

   Stremlau   also   said   that   Guineaâs  electoral  body  deployed  a
   sophisticated  electoral  recording system that significantly enhances
   how rapid CENI releases the final results of Sundayâs vote.

   He said, despite unsubstantiated reports of violence, the election was
   largely peaceful devoid of intimidation or harassment.

   âWe [Carter Center] wonât take speculations from radio or speculations
   from  observer  groups that are just looking at a few isolated polling
   stations. We want the electoral commission to render a judgment and we
   are  telling  all  the  parties  and  the public to please respect the
   constitutional process,â he said.

   Guineaâs  military  ruler,  General  Sekouba Konate, recently signed a
   decree   setting   27  June  as  the  date  for  the  elections  after
   consultations  with  the  electoral  commission.  The  commission also
   proposed  18  July for a second round runoff, if any of the candidates
   fail to win over 50 percent of the presidential vote cast.

   The  military  leader  reportedly  urged the presidential aspirants to
   help prevent violence during the election process.

   Analysts  say  this  is Guineaâs first free and fair presidential vote
   after gaining independence from colonial power France in 1958.

   Carter Centerâs Stremlau said Guineans were pleased to have voted in a
   free election during Sundayâs vote.

   âInspiring  will  be  my  word.  Theyâve  been  patient,  theyâve been
   enormously  good  natured  and I think genuinely relieved because they
   have  never  had  a  vote in this country, which was not rigged by the
   government  in  power. So, that there is a sense that they really want
   change and they are in such a good mood,â Stremlau said.

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