Electoral system for the president

Cote D’Ivoire Electoral Law No. 2000=514 of 1 August 2000

Article 44. The election of the President of the Republic shall be by an absolute majority of votes cast. If this is not obtained, a second round shall be held, fifteen days after the proclamation of the results of the first round. Only the two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first round will proceed.

In 2010, run-off elections took place between incumbent President Gbagbo and the former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara when no candidate won the required majority of votes in the first round. Though the Election Commission declared Ouattara as the winner, the Constitutional Court invalidated the results and declared victory for Gbagbo. Both candidates claimed victory and formed their own government. Eventually, street protests between supporters of both camps turned violent and parliamentary elections were postponed.