2010 Comorian presidential election
{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Comoros
| type = presidential
| previous_election = 2006 Comorian presidential election
| previous_year = 2006
| next_election =2016 Comorian presidential election
| next_year = 2016
| election_date = 7 November 2010 (Mohéli primary)
26 December 2010 (national vote)
| image_size = 130x130px
| image1 = Ikililou Dhoinine 2012.jpg
| nominee1 =Ikililou Dhoinine
| popular_vote1 = 106,890
| percentage1 =60.91%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Mohamed Said Fazul
| popular_vote2 =57,587
| percentage2 =32.81%
| image3 = 3x4.svg
| nominee3 = Abdou Djabir
| popular_vote3 =11,018
| percentage3 = 6.28%
| title = President
| before_election = Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi
| after_election = Ikililou Dhoinine
}}{{Politics of Comoros}}
Presidential elections were held in the Comoros on 7 November 2010, with a second round on 26 December,{{Cite web|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE65G0C220100617 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626224612/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE65G0C220100617 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-06-26 |title=Comoros leaders agree to poll timetable | Top News |agency=Reuters |date=2010-06-17 |accessdate=2010-08-21}} alongside gubernatorial elections for the three main islands.{{cite news|url=http://www.alwatwan.net/index.php?home=archives_detail.php&title=Election-des-presidentielles-de-l-Union-et-des-gouverneurs-des-iles-les-bureaux-ouverts-avec-des-legers-retards&actu_id=2732|title=Élection des présidentielles de l’Union et des gouverneurs des îles : les bureaux ouverts avec des légers retards|date=7 November 2010|publisher=Al Watwan|language=French|accessdate=7 November 2010|location=Moroni}} The result was a victory for Ikililou Dhoinine, who received 61% of the vote.
Background
There had been an attempt to delay the elections until 27 November 2011 and extend the presidential term until then.{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/6930837.html |title=Comoros to hold elections in November 2011 - People's Daily Online |work=People's Daily |date=2010-03-25 |accessdate=2010-08-21}} However, the Constitutional Court ruled this unconstitutional in May 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Comoros-election-talks-fail-20100528 |title=Comoros election talks fail: News24: Africa: News |publisher=News24 |date=2010-05-28 |accessdate=2010-08-21 |archive-date=30 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630061416/http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Comoros-election-talks-fail-20100528 |url-status=dead }}
Electoral system
In Comoros, the presidency rotates every four years between the federation's three constituent islands: Anjouan, Mohéli and Grande Comore. This rotation was Mohéli's turn to supply the president.[http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/comoros/government Comoros: Government] Global Edge Incumbent president Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was from Anjouan, and was thus not able to stand as a candidate.
The president was elected in two rounds; in the first round, voters in Mohéli voted in a primary election, with the top three candidates advancing to the second round, where a nationwide vote was carried out, with the winner decided by plurality voting.
Candidates
There were ten candidates in the presidential primary election. President Sambi supported his Vice President Ikililou Dhoinine. Another candidate from the Presidential Movement was Mohamed Larifou Oukacha, secretary-general of the presidency, showing a possible split in the Presidential faction. The other eight candidates were from the opposition.{{cite news|url=http://www.alwatwan.net/pdf/14092010.pdf|title=Elections harmonisées : 10 prétendants au siège de président et 29 aux postes de gouverneur|last=Ahmed|first=M. Soilihi|date=14 September 2010|publisher=Al Watwan|language=French|accessdate=7 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723012936/http://www.alwatwan.net/pdf/14092010.pdf|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}} Among them were Mohamed Said Fazul, former governor of Mohéli, and Zahariat Saïd Ahmed, the sole female candidate.{{cite news|url=http://www.alwatwan.net/index.php?home=archives_detail.php&title=Fin-de-la-campagne.-Les-candidats-et-leurs-etats-majors-se-reposent-en-attendant-le-jour-J-&actu_id=2730|title=Fin de la campagne. Les candidats et leurs états majors se reposent en attendant le jour "J"|date=6 November 2010|publisher=Al Watwan|language=French|accessdate=7 November 2010}}
Results
Ikililou Dhoinine, Mohamed Said Fazul and Bianrifi Tarmidhi received the most votes in the first round primary. However, Tarmidhi's total number of votes was cut down on 13 November by the constitutional court after it had decided to invalidate the ballots from several polling stations.{{cite news|url=http://edition.hzkpresse.com/actualites/lire.php?article=1275|title=Publication des résultats définitifs: La cour constitutionnelle rétrograde Bianrifi au profit du candidat Djabir|date=13 November 2010|publisher=La Gazette des Comores|language=French|accessdate=21 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712233826/http://edition.hzkpresse.com/actualites/lire.php?article=1275|archive-date=12 July 2011|url-status=dead}} This meant that, besides Dhoinine and Fazul, Abdou Djabir advanced to the second round.
{{Election results
|firstround=Mohéli primary
|secondround=National vote
|cand1=Ikililou Dhoinine||votes1=3785|votes1_2=106890
|cand2=Mohamed Said Fazul||votes2=3080|votes2_2=57587
|cand3=Abdou Djabir||votes3=1327|votes3_2=11018
|cand4=Bianrifi Tarmidi||votes4=1250
|cand5=Saïd Dhoifir Bounou||votes5=1154
|cand6=Hamada Madi Bolero||votes6=1060
|cand7=Mohamed Larifou Oukacha|votes7=977
|cand8=Mohamed Hassanaly|votes8=523
|cand9=Abdoulhakim Ben Allaoui|votes9=208
|cand10=Zahariat Saïd Ahmed|votes10=63
|invalid=951|invalid2=27438
|electorate=21429|electorate2=384358
|source=[https://africanelections.tripod.com/km.html#2010_Presidential_Election African Elections Database]
}}