Elizabeth Coté, chief of party in Guinea, comments on the recent announcement that Guinea will head to the polls in June:

"Guinea's interim president General Sékouba Konaté officially announced the date of June 27 for the presidential election last weekend. IFES and other US partners have since resumed election-related activities on the ground. Both the CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission) and the MATAP (Ministry of Territorial Administration and Political Affairs), supported by the Government of Transition and most political parties, are determined to meet this new timetable. However, a progress evaluation will need to be done early in May to assess whether the established date is still realistic. In the meantime a second run at out-of-country registration is being organized in 17 countries while preparations continue for the posting and correction of voters lists nationwide which is scheduled to take place from March 18 to April 4 2010. Konaté also established the National Transition Council (CNT) last week. With over 150 members, its first priority will be to fill the gap left by the suspension of the constitution by providing a legal framework for the electoral process."