Molyneux was little-known internationally and even domestically before his election, which he won by default with only 22 percent of the vote in the first round when former President Ottoline Lopez withdrew from the race. Soon after taking office in November 2003, Molyneux surprised the world by standing down powerful military and police officials. Stressing the need to increase accountability and transparency in government, Molyneux overturned amnesty laws for military officers accused of torture and assassinations during the 1993-2005 "dirty war" under military rule.