Côte d'Ivoire: the absence of Laurent Gbagbo on the electoral list provokes a reaction from the political class

Former President Laurent Gbagbo, president of his new PPA-CI party, during a rally in Yopougon, March 31, 2023. AFP - SIA KAMBOU

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The absence of former President Laurent Gbagbo from the electoral list has provoked strong criticism from the political class. Sentenced to 20 years in prison in the so-called "robbery of the BCEAO", the former president was removed from the voter's list in 2020. A few months ago, he took the step of re-registering on the electoral list. But according to the Independent Electoral Commission, the law does not allow him to be included. This situation also provokes several contrasting reactions within the Ivorian political class.

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With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne

On Saturday, the PPA-CI demanded "the immediate restoration of the right to vote" of Laurent Gbagbo. This party denounces "a discriminatory measure of exclusion" of its leader.

The PDCI, a potential ally of the PPA-CI, in the local elections of September 2, sees it as an "injustice": "we cannot deny someone of his ability to be a candidate and to be a voter," stresses Soumeïla Bredoumy, the spokesperson of the PDCI.

This situation must be rectified quickly. Our party is against injustice. (...) You cannot deny someone their ability to be a candidate and their ability to vote at the same time. Our balance, our peace is fragile.

Soumeïla Bredoumy, PDCI spokesperson

Bineta Diagne

Other people concerned by this removal from the file: Guillaume Soro, currently in exile, and Charles Blé Goudé: "I have taken note of the decision, I hurt of course. I believe that the right has been said, "says the leader of Cojep, who recalls that remedies are still possible. "We must avoid other tensions, there is the period of litigation," continues this official, who does not present any candidate for the local elections of September 2.

For his part, Ibrahim Cissé Bacongo, the executive secretary of the RHDP, brings a nuance concerning the commitments made during the Political Dialogue, about the amnesty of Laurent Gbagbo: "the issue was raised, he says, but was not discussed, for the simple reason that the amnesty is the discretionary power of the president."

>> READ ALSO: Côte d'Ivoire: Laurent Gbagbo still absent from the electoral list

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