| Summary: | The mere fact that elections in Guinea-Bissau, held on the 26th of July, finished in a peaceful manner, is in itself a victory of the Guinean people. The immediate previous period was marked by a series of political assassinations, including that of General Batista Tagme Na Waie and President João Bernardo Vieira (the night of March 2) that put into question (yet again) the country's democracy. Thus, the very acceptance of defeat by the candidate Kumba Yala (or simply Ialá) - a volatile political figure and former president between 2000 and 2003 - in the face of the victory of Malam Bacai Sanha (supported by PAICG) with 63.31% of the votes is cause for optimism in the international community. The new president, who takes office on September 8, 2009, chose the reformist Carlos Gomes Junior as his prime minister.
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