Election Watch

Election Results: (September-December 2004)

Afghanistan: In the first free presidential election in the country's history, held on October 9, transitional president Hamid Karzai won 55.4 percent of the vote. Yunous Qanooni came in second with 16.3 percent. For more detailed information on this election, see Larry Goodson's article on pp. 24-38 of this issue.

Botswana: Elections to the 57-member National Assembly were held on October 30. The incumbent Botswana Democratic Party, which has been in power for more than forty years, won 44 seats; the Botswana National Front, 12 seats; and the Botswana Congress Party, one seat. International observers declared the election free and fair.

Czech Republic: In two rounds of elections for one-third of the 81-seat Senate held on November 5-6 and 12-13, President Václav Klaus's opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS) won 18 seats, giving the party close to an absolute majority in the Senate. The Christian and Democratic Union-Czech People's Party won 3 seats, and six other parties won one seat each. The ruling Social Democratic Party of Prime Minister Stanislav Gross failed to win a single seat. Voter turnout was the lowest in Czech Senate-election history: 29 percent in the first round, and less than 19 percent in the second round.

Ghana: In a December 7 presidential election, incumbent John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party was reelected to a second and final term with 53 percent. His main opponent, John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress, received 44 percent. Parliamentary elections were held on the same day; results will be reported in a future issue.

Indonesia: In a September 20 presidential runoff, Democratic Party candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won nearly 61 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent president Megawati Sukarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. In the July 5 first round, Yudhoyono had won 33 percent and Sukarnoputri, 26 percent.

Kazakhstan: In elections for the 77-seat parliament on September 19, the ruling Otan ("Fatherland") party won 42 seats and the Agrarian-Industrial Union of Workers, 11 seats. The remaining 24 seats went to smaller parties and independent candidates. International observers reported that the election fell short of international standards for fairness.

Lithuania: In October 11 elections to the 141-seat Seimas, 39 seats went to the newly founded populist Labour Party, 25 to the Homeland Union, and 20 to the ruling Social Democratic Party. The Liberal and Centre Union received 18 seats, the New Union (Social Liberals) of impeached president Rolandas Paksas received 11, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Union of Farmers' and New Democratic Parties received 10 seats each, and the Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles won 2 seats. The remainder went to independent candidates.

Mozambique: Parliamentary and presidential elections were held on December 1-2. Results will be reported in a future issue.

Namibia: In November 15-16 parliamentary elections, outgoing president Sam Nujoma's South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) won 55 of the 72 seats. The Congress of Democrats won 5 seats; the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), 4 seats; the National Unity Democratic Organisation and the United Democratic Front, 3 seats each; and the Republican Party and the Monitor Action Group, one seat each. SWAPO candidate Hifikepunye Pohamba won the concurrent presidential balloting with a resounding 76 percent of the vote. Turnout neared 85 percent, and international observers called the elections free and fair.

Niger: In a December 4 presidential runoff, incumbent Mamadou Tandja of the ruling National Movement for a Developing Society-Victory was reelected with 65.5 percent of the vote, while opposition candidate Mahamadou Isshoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya received 34.4 percent. In the November 16 first round, Tandja and Isshoufou had won 40.7 and 24.6 percent, respectively, while former president Mahamane Ousmane of the Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama finished third with 17.4 percent. Parliamentary elections were held on December 4; results will be reported in a future issue.

Romania: In a December 12 presidential runoff, Bucharest mayor Traian Basescu of the center-right Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) defeated...