In a shocking turn of events, Tidjane Thiam, the leading opposition figure in Ivory Coast, has been struck from the electoral roster ahead of the October presidential election, a decision deemed unappealable by the judiciary. The court ruled that Thiam, who renounced his French citizenship to enter the race, forfeited his Ivorian nationality when he obtained French citizenship in 1987. His removal may stymie his chances of becoming president, a role for which he was recently nominated as the candidate for the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI).
Political Turmoil: Court Removes Opposition Leader from Election Race
Political Turmoil: Court Removes Opposition Leader from Election Race
The disqualification of Tidjane Thiam marks a significant setback for Ivory Coast's democratic processes.
Thiam condemned the ruling as "an act of democratic vandalism," suggesting it aims to disenfranchise the electorate. Just a week prior, he secured 5,321 of 5,348 votes to win his nomination as PDCI's candidate. Meanwhile, the ruling party, RHDP, has yet to announce its candidate, although current President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83 and has already served three terms, is anticipated to seek re-election.
The political climate is tense as the judiciary's decision to disqualify Thiam follows the barring of other notable figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, from the electoral process. Thiam responded to the ruling by indicating that it was not unexpected, especially as his popularity was rising among voters. After more than a decade and a half in power, members of the RHDP appear to feel threatened, fearing the possibility of losing control to the electorate. Thiam’s political journey began after he excelled academically, becoming the first Ivorian to pass France's prestigious Polytechnique engineering entrance exam. He briefly served as planning minister in 1998 for the PDCI before the party was ousted in a coup, leading him to a successful career abroad with companies such as Aviva and Credit Suisse.
The political climate is tense as the judiciary's decision to disqualify Thiam follows the barring of other notable figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, from the electoral process. Thiam responded to the ruling by indicating that it was not unexpected, especially as his popularity was rising among voters. After more than a decade and a half in power, members of the RHDP appear to feel threatened, fearing the possibility of losing control to the electorate. Thiam’s political journey began after he excelled academically, becoming the first Ivorian to pass France's prestigious Polytechnique engineering entrance exam. He briefly served as planning minister in 1998 for the PDCI before the party was ousted in a coup, leading him to a successful career abroad with companies such as Aviva and Credit Suisse.
