2012 Yemeni presidential election
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A presidential election was held in Yemen on 21 February 2012. Acting President Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi was the only candidate in the election. He was sworn in as president of Yemen on 27 February 2012 in the Presidential Palace.
Background
During the 2011-2012 Yemeni uprising, the Gulf Cooperation Council proposed an agreement whereby President Ali Abdullah Saleh would transfer his powers to Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi. Saleh was to remain in office as a figurehead for up to three months, after which a vote would be held, after Saleh signed the agreement in Riyadh on 23 November, 2011.[1] On 26 November, Hadi announced the 21 February date for the vote.[2]
Candidate
According to the Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa, the main opposition coalition Joint Meeting Parties and the ruling General People's Congress will jointly nominate Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi as their consensus candidate.[3]
Violence
Despite the ongoing uprising and reactions that continued to cause violence, other poll related violence included at least two attacks near polling stations prior to the vote. One of the attacks occurred the day before the election in Aden, a stronghold of the South Yemen Movement seeking to secede and restore South Yemen, that result in the death of one soldier. The Yemeni government warned that there was "certain" to be violent attempts to disrupt the vote.[citation needed]
Boycott
The Houthis in northern Yemen called for a boycott of the vote, but said they would not stop those who wished to vote from doing so. In the same vein, the southern secessionists also called for a boycott. Yemeni police said they had arrested "hardliners" from the movement who they alleged sought to forcefully prevent people from voting.[citation needed]
Election
On election day, at least one security service personnel was killed in the southern al Mansourah district. Further violence was reported in the south. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was also accused of attacking election committees.[4]
Acording to Yemeni law, the final result was expected within ten days. With a reported 65% turnout, Hadi won 99.8 percent of the vote.[5]
Hadi was sworn in on 25 February 2012.[6] On the same day a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle outside a presidential palace in Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut Governorate, killing at least 25 members of the Republican Guard.[4]
Saleh formally ceded power to his deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in the Presidential Palace and steps down on 27 February 2012.[7]
Reactions
United States - Welcomed the election as a "milestone."[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Yemeni President Saleh signs deal on ceding power". BBC News. BBC. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- ^ "Yemen's vice-president calls snap elections". Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera. 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
- ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/27/2520893/yemens-presidential-election-wont.html[dead link]
- ^ a b Al Jazeera English.[page needed]
- ^ "February 2012". Rulers.org. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ Kasinof, Laura (2012-02-25). "Yemen's New President Sworn Into Office". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iqhKKOqo6XDujeTI_yaD4B0CcyVA?docId=CNG.12cc0199ecc6457c2d2a25874218f73d.691