By Neil Marks, Reuters — Georgetown, Monday 8 June 2020
Preliminary data published by Guyana’s elections commission shows that opposition candidate Irfaan Ali has won a recount of votes in March’s presidential election following accusations the tally was manipulated.
President David Granger had claimed victory despite observer groups and diplomats from the United States and European Union saying there were irregularities in the count. Initial data shows Ali’s opposition PPP party secured enough votes to win 33 seats in the 65-seat legislature, while Granger’s APNU+AFC party secured enough for 31 seats. The 40-year-old Ali is expected to be sworn in as president.
Guyana’s top court had found the largest voting district’s electoral head had not counted votes in accordance with electoral laws, eventually leading to a country-wide recount. The disputed vote may fuel long-simmering tensions between Afro-Guyanese and those of Indian descent. Guyana is expected to become a major oil producer in the coming years as a consortium taps into 8 billion barrels of oil and gas off its coast.