Choi certifies
presidential election results on Friday

L'Intelligent
d'Abidjan  –
On Friday, 12 November, the Special Representative of the UN
Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire will certify the results of the presidential
election held on 31 October 2010.

 

Debriefing
meeting for the first round of presidential election – RDR detects presidential
camp's fraud system

Le Patriote  –
It is time for assessment with a view to better prepare for the second round.
The RDR did not change the tradition. The party situated on Rue Lepic organized
an important meeting yesterday, at its headquarters, presided over by the
Campaign Director in charge of the Abidjan district, Minister Marcel Amon Tanoh.
In this regard, the functioning of local IECs, the publication of data and the
environment that prevailed on the Election Day were thoroughly assessed by the
regional and district campaign directors. The fraud system which was
scientifically planned and executed by the presidential camp was fully exposed.
(...) Concerning the functioning of the local electoral commissions, the
participants outlined the laxness even the collusion of these institutions'
leaders. According to the DDC, in complicity with the latter, representatives of
the RDR were driven away from polling offices.
The collect of
polling booths which was not done on time by UNOCI's structures, favoured the
implementation of a whole part of the presidential camp's electoral technology.

In complicity with the FDS' elements, the reports were tinkered
on the way to the local IEC. The increasing number of people who voted with
simple mission order without voting cards was pointed out. 

 

Measures to
avoid fraud in the north

Le temps  –

Obvious electoral fraud in the north of the country. Everybody
voted, even the neighbour. The voter already has in his pocket the ballot paper
with the "sticker" properly filled and folded. In the polling booth, he puts in
his pocket the ballot paper that he received at the polling office. He puts the
ballot paper he received at home in the box. There is also the integral
replacement of ballot boxes by full boxes. [...] What to do now to prevent the RDR
from repeating the fraud in the north"? Preparing before the election.
Reassuring measures to be set up.
Also be wary of
UNOCI and Licorne during the transport of the reports.

 

Second round of
presidential election – Chairman Guêï (UMP-DAN): "Vote Gbagbo to free the west"

Notre Voie  – "(...)
This optimism of Chairman Guêï is lessened by the issue of safety in the west
because of the rebels who are still armed. The Chairman of the UMP-Dan says he
will send a written document to UNOCI to inform it of this issue. "Insecurity
prevails in west. This morning (Tuesday 9 November) I have been informed that
rebels are threatening the population in canton Go and Logoualé because they
voted for Gbagbo at the first round" [...]".

 

Press conference
at French Embassy in Abidjan

Le Patriote  –

Statement of the Ministry of the Foreign and European Affairs.

Question:
One of the candidates of the presidential election thinks that his votes were
stolen and demands a recount of the votes. What is your comment on this first
round? Do you support a recount of the votes?

 

Answer:

I recommend that you to read the interview of our ambassador in
Abidjan with "Le Parisien" few days ago, in which he recalled that France had no
candidate and in no way will interfere in the electoral process. We welcomed the
successful conclusion of the first round of the presidential election in Côte
d'Ivoire last week. The electoral process is happening in accordance with the
rules decided by the Ivorians themselves. We invite all the actors to
demonstrate the same spirit and the same sense of responsibility until the end
of the electoral process.

Question:
The first round of the presidential elections took place under very good
conditions, but there are fears of violence during the second round, if the
rules are not respected. In cases of violence, what is the role of France and
the Licorne force? Will it evacuate its population or will it intervene as it
did in 2002?

Answer:

It is a hypothetical question. Let's be positive! It is with hope
and optimism that we are following this election. So far, things have gone well
and there is no reason to think that this will not continue. For days, we recall
that we have no particular interest in this election. It is up to Ivorians to
work to make this election a success. This is what France would like.

 

Presidential
election: the second round will be held on November 28

Fraternité Matin  -
After a meeting
with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Constitutional Council
this morning, the President of the Republic has signed on the basis of the
Article 48 of the Constitution, a decision allowing the Council of Ministers to
decide on a decree draft submitted by the Independent Electoral Commission
setting the date of the second round (of the presidential election. (Editor's
note) on Sunday, 28 November 2010. Prime Minister Guillaume Soro announced
yesterday at the Presidential Palace (Mosaic Room), the holding of the second
round of presidential elections on 28 November. The head of the government made
the statement at the end of an "Extraordinary Council of Ministers" (dixit) led
by the President of the Republic, Laurent Gbagbo. "For practical, technical and
material reasons, the Independent Electoral Commission has asked (and obtained.
Editor's note) an extra week to prepare in the best conditions, the second round
of presidential elections," he said.
This additional week
(compared to November 21 decided by the Constitutional Council on November 6),
will enable the IEC to improve the organization of the poll. (...)

 

Violence against
the Baoulé/ Laurent Gbagbo – "There was no physical assault"

Le Patriote  –
The candidate Laurent
Gbagbo does not think that he would be defeated. During his press conference
yesterday at his campaign headquarters, he has repeatedly said he "will win".
However, he denied having said he would win the first round. Considering the
results of this round, "we are well ahead, so we are heavily favoured, he is
convinced. For him, he is the only one to have "a national electorate," while
others have ethnic and tribal electorates. (...) He who says he is "ready" to go
to the "duel with the other" yet claims again that Ouattara was the "candidate
from abroad."  Laurent Gbagbo says as evidence for his assertion "as we speak he
is in Ouagadougou. However, he insisted he "never said" that Alassane Ouattara
was a foreignerer. (...) Laurent Gbagbo also refuted the violence against
Baoulé. Taking the towns one by one, he explained what happened. "No Baoulés has
been hit," he claimed. There have been clashes, verbal jousting. It exists
everywhere. (...) There was no physical assault. (...)

 

Serious
deficiencies of the results of the first round: the Constitutional Council
rejects the request of President Bédié

Le Nouveau Réveil  -
The Constitutional
Council yesterday issued at 18h, its decision on the motion to quash the results
of the first round of presidential elections, introduced by the candidate of the
PDCI-RDA, Henri Konan Bédié. "The request of Aimé Henri Konan is unacceptable."
This is statement the Secretary General of the Institution, Gbassi Kouadiané,
read to journalists. To support his argument, the Secretary General of the
Constitutional Council cited the Article 60 of the Election Code which provides
that "Every candidate for the election of the President of the Republic may
submit a written request to the President of the Constitutional Council. The
request and the documents supporting the claim must be filed within three days
after the polls are closed. "The Poll was opened on October 31 at 07h and ended
at 17h" he said. The PDCI did not respect that deadline. (...)