Election Watch

ELECTION RESULTS (September–December 2009)

Afghanistan: According to the initial tally of the results of the August 20 presidential election, released amid numerous fraud charges, incumbent Hamid Karzai won 54.6 percent of the vote and Abdullah Abdullah won 27.7 percent. The results of a recount on October 19 gave Karzai 49.7 percent and Abdullah 30.6 percent. A runoff was scheduled for November 7, but Abdullah pulled out of the race on November 1. Karzai was sworn in as president on November 19.

Bolivia: Presidential and legislative elections were held on December 6; results will be reported in a future issue.

Botswana: In October 16 legislative elections for the 57-seat National Assembly, the long-ruling Botswana Democratic Party, led by President Ian Khama, won 53 percent of the vote and 45 seats. The Botswana National Front won 22 percent and 6 seats; the Botswana Congress Party won 19 percent and 4 seats; the Botswana Alliance Movement won 2 percent and 1 seat; and an independent candidate won the remaining seat.

Chile: Presidential and legislative elections were scheduled to be held on December 13; results will be reported in a future issue.

Croatia: The presidential election was scheduled to be held on December 27; results will be reported in a future issue.

Gabon: Following the June 8 death of President Omar Bongo, who had been in power for 41 years, a presidential election was held on August 30. Omar Bongo's son, Ali Ben Bongo of the long-ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), was elected with 42 percent of the vote. André Mba Obame, a former PDG member who ran as an independent, won 26 percent, and Pierre Mamboundou of the Union of Gabonese People won 25 percent. Opposition candidates alleged that the results were fraudulent, and their supporters engaged in street protests.

Honduras: On June 28, President Manuel Zelaya was forcibly deposed from office and an interim government was installed. The interim government proceeded with the previously scheduled November 29 presidential election, for which the candidates had been selected prior to Zelaya's ouster. Porfirio Lobo Sosa of the National Party won 56 percent of the vote, while Elvin Santos of Zelaya's Liberal Party won 38 percent. Legislative elections were held the same day; results will be reported in a future issue.

Mozambique: In the October 28 presidential election, incumbent Armando Guebuza of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) was reelected with 75 percent of the vote. Afonso Dhlakama of the Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) won 16 percent, and Daviz Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) won 9 percent. In concurrent elections for the 250-seat Assembly of the Republic, Frelimo won 75 percent and 191 seats, Renamo won 18 percent and 51 seats, and MDM won 4 percent and 8 seats. The EU Election Observation Mission reported that the election was well managed, but also expressed concern about a lack of transparency and "several cases of electoral irregularities and inconsistencies in the application of procedures."

Namibia: In the presidential election on November 27 and 28, incumbent Hifikepunye Pohamba of the ruling South West African People's Organization of Namibia (SWAPO) was reelected with 75 percent of the vote, while Hidipo Hamutenya of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) won 11 percent. No other candidates won more than 3 percent. In concurrent parliamentary elections, SWAPO won 74 percent and 54 seats, while the RDP won 11 percent and 8 seats. The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, the National Unity Democratic Organization, and the United Democratic Front won 2 seats each.

Niger: After a period of emergency rule, and despite a Constitutional Court ruling, President Mamadou Tandja went ahead with elections for the 113-seat National Assembly on October 20. With a coalition of the leading opposition parties boycotting the election, Tandja's ruling party, the National Movement for a Developed Society (MNSD), won 76 seats, and the Rally for Social Democracy finished second with 15 seats. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Niger's membership in protest against its decision to proceed with the election.

Romania: In the presidential election on November 22, incumbent...