Presidential election in Guinea: the dilemma of opponents
In the center, Abdourahmane Sanoh, national coordinator of the FNDC.
C. Valade / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Candidates have until Tuesday, September 08 to submit their application.
For the time being, personalities have shown their willingness to go there.
We are still waiting to know the position of the opposition leaders, who seem to be caught in a dilemma: to campaign against a third term or to try their luck.
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The opposition leaders are divided into two camps: on the one hand, there are those who do not want to participate in the presidential election, believing that this would amount to legitimizing the new Constitution.
These leaders plan to continue their "
fight
" within the FNDC against a possible third term of
Alpha Condé
.
On the other, we find the leaders who want to try their luck.
With an ulterior motive, the idea of avoiding practicing the empty chair policy.
“
They are aware that victory is far from them,
observes a politician,
but they say to themselves that it allows to revive the base of militants of their party
.
»Activists frustrated by the lack of results, following the boycott of the legislative elections last March: in practice, the main opposition parties no longer have a seat in the National Assembly.
Taking part in the presidential election would therefore be "
an opportunity to rectify the situation
", comments an observer of political life.
So why such a long wait before announcing their candidacy?
The opposition leaders tempted by this election are aware of this: their candidacy signs their divorce with the FNDC.
“
Their exclusion could undermine their credibility with demonstrators hostile to tampering with institutions,
” analyzes an opponent.
■
Alpha Condé to the women of his party: “I commit myself by whatever you want”
With our correspondent in Conakry,
Mouctar Bah
Guinean President Alpha Condé confirmed yesterday that he was a candidate for a third term, despite months of harshly suppressed protests and during which dozens of civilians perished.
Alpha Condé, 82, spoke by videoconference to women in his party who had organized a demonstration in support of his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for October 18.
It was during a demonstration of support for women parliamentarians on his part that President Alpha Condé released this sentence: “
I am your candidate.
"
“
I am more proud of your support,
” he told them, “
because you constitute what is called Guinea, what is called the silent majority.
"
For months, the head of state had refrained from confirming or denying that he would seek his own succession.
It is therefore done.
Monday his party, the Rally of the People of Guinea had already almost formalized his candidacy in a statement.
Alpha Condé promised his audience: “
I will never disappoint you.
"Before adding:"
If the Constitution requires that political parties present the candidates, I am the candidate of women and young people.
"
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Alpha Condé's candidacy in Guinea: his supporters applaud, his opponents threaten