Chad’s Ruling Party Dominates First Senate Election, Controversy Arises
Provisional results indicate that Chad’s MPS party has won 45 of 46 Senate seats, solidifying President Déby’s power. The election faced allegations of irregularities from the opposition. Following Déby’s controversial presidential win and the party’s earlier legislative success, the recent election underscores an increasingly dominant political landscape amid shifting alliances in regional security.
Chad’s ruling party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), achieved a significant victory in the country’s inaugural Senate election, winning 45 out of the 46 available seats. These provisional results, however, are contested by the primary opposition party. This success bolsters the authority of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who inherited the presidency after his father’s death in 2021 and secured 61% of votes in the controversial presidential election earlier in May.
In the previous legislative election held in December, the MPS gained a commanding two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, with a boycott from many opposition parties. In the current Senate election results, the lone remaining seat was claimed by the National Rally of Chadian Democrats (RNDT), led by former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke. Padacke has publicly criticized the process, highlighting allegations of irregular ballots particularly in Moundou, Chad’s second-largest city.
The Senate comprises 46 indirectly elected senators, chosen by municipal and provincial councillors, in addition to 23 senators set to be appointed by the President. The newly elected senators will serve renewable six-year terms. President Déby’s regime, a crucial ally of the West against militant threats in the Sahel, has severed military cooperation with France, mirroring similar recent trends in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, further consolidating his power amid ongoing allegations of electoral impropriety.
In conclusion, Chad’s recent Senate election illustrates the dominance of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement, reaffirming President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s control over the nation’s political landscape. Despite the overwhelming victory, allegations of electoral irregularities from the opposition raise concerns about the integrity of the election process. Given the geopolitical context and Déby’s recent shifts in foreign policy, the implications of these developments merit close examination.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
