The PLD's participation in the ADP clearly shifted their position from political opponent to political ally. Guinea's National Assembly is made of 114 members with a 5 year mandate. Guinea held its first multi-party legislative elections in June 1995, in which 850 candidates representing 21 out of the 46 legalized parties participated. The PUP continues to dominate all three branches of government. President Conte won a second 5 year term in the December 1998 election which was marked by widespread irregularities, violence and civil unrest.
Guinean law restricts freedom of assembly.
In the period leading up to the 1998 presidential elections the government used its power to thwart unwanted political activity. In April 1998, police arrested two opposition party members of the National Assembly on charges of holding an unauthorized meeting. Information was unavailable among the sources contacted by the RIC regarding PLD candidates that ran in the 1995 legislative elections. This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RIC within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.