[JURIST] Guiena’s Constitutional Court on Saturday validated the reelection of President Alpha Conde [BBC profile] amid allegations of fraud and rigging. Conde won the election, which took place on October 11, by a majority vote of 57.84 percent, giving him a second five-year term in office. Opposition leaders and candidates, including Faya Lansana Millimono, Papa Koly Kourouma and Lansana Kouyate, filed complaints. The court found their complaints [Reuters report], stating that votes were tampered with and some not even counted, to be unfounded. The court cited lack of evidence and also noted that most of the evidence that was brought had no bearing on the outcome of the election. Cellou Dalein Diallo, who finished second with 31 percent of the vote, refused to recognize the results when they were announced but did not file a complaint. Neither did third place finisher Sidya Toure.

Presidential elections continue to present issues to governments and lawmakers around the world. Last month the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil banned [JURIST report] corporate entities from providing funding to political candidates in the future. The court found that the large role corporations played in campaign funding was unconstitutional and compromised the legitimacy of the elections. In July Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza was elected to a third term [JURIST report], leading to public protest and international criticism. Although the election resulted in Nkurunziza receiving 69 percent of the vote, the Constitution of Burundi states that presidents shall be universally elected into office for a term of five years and can renew the term only once. Prior to the vote, Nkurunziza’s opponents boycotted the election [JURIST report] claiming it is unconstitutional for a president to seek a third term. In June Colombia’s Congress voted [JURIST report] on to limit presidents to a single term, a measure backed by President Juan Manuel Santos.