After Somparé was re-elected to the National Assembly in the June 2002 parliamentary election, he was chosen by President Lansana Conté to become President of the National Assembly. Conté had some difficulty obtaining the necessary support for Somparé among parliamentary deputies, and for that reason he delayed the opening of the National Assembly. Ultimately he was elected as President of the National Assembly at a special session on 23 September 2002, receiving the support of 87 of the 106 deputies who voted.