Liberia Presidential Election Heats Up; Sirleaf Frontrunner
By MISNA
The challenge between Liberia’s current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and diplomat Winston Tubman in the presidential race ending next Tuesday continues to heat up, reports MISNA.
The Unity Party’s Sirleaf – the first African woman to become president, elected in 2005 – is dominating the media and public space, prompting international observers of the Carter Center to suggest that the party has “violated” the public space available to presidential candidates.
The support enjoyed by “Madam Sirleaf” is mainly due to the efforts put in place toward economic development, infrastructure, a strong reduction of national debt, an increase of the state budget, raising the minimum wage in a country that had been forced to its knees by a civil war that lasted from 1989 to 2003.
Tubman’s strength, – running for the Congress for Democratic Change party – even in areas of the country closer to the majority, lies above all in the communication skills of his campaign director George Weah, the former football star who is able to deliver his message both among the young people in the slums and those living at the highest level.
At the end of a televised debate last night featuring all the presidential candidates, many of Weah’s supporters poured into the streets of Monrovia as a sign of support, said sources to MISNA.
Among the issues used by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party to discredit their powerful rival is corruption, which remains rooted in the country, even among the political class.
The closing rally for the CDC campaign is planned to take place this weekend in the capital, where Mrs. Sirleaf has already gathered with her supporters.
There are a total of 16 presidential candidates running in the October 11 election. Parliamentary elections will also take place on that day.
This article has been slightly edited for grammar
