2003 Guinean presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Guinea on 21 December 2003. Incumbent Lansana Conté won over 95.6% of the vote after most opposition parties boycotted the election.

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Candidates

Conté ran for another seven-year term despite serious health problems, including diabetes, which caused some to doubt his ability to continue as President.[1] 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.[2]

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.[2] Despite his failing health, Conté was officially certified as being medically fit to stand as a candidate.[3]

Results

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%.[4] 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.[1]

Candidate Party Votes %
Lansana ContéParty of Unity and Progress3,905,82496.63
Mamadou Bhoye BarryUnion for National Progress178,3954.37
Invalid/blank votes61,808–
Total4,146,027100
Registered voters/turnout5,009,78082.76
Source: IFES

References
  1. "GUINEA: Ailing Conte is sworn in for another seven term", IRIN, 20 January 2004.
  2. "GUINEA: Conte faces virtually no opposition in presidential election", IRIN, 12 November 2003.
  3. "GUINEA: Opposition leader arrested following radio interview", IRIN, 13 November 2003.
  4. "GUINEA: Conte sacks economic team in reshuffle", IRIN, 2 March 2004.
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