Chad’s Ruling Party Achieves Dominance in First Senate Elections

Chad’s ruling party, MPS, won 43 of 46 senate seats in the country’s first elections, concluding a political transition initiated after Deby’s rise to power. Deby was reelected during a controversial presidency, as opposition groups boycotted the elections. The MPS also has a significant majority in the lower legislative house, amidst increasing security concerns in the country.

Chad’s Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by military ruler Mahamat Idriss Deby, has dominated the nation’s inaugural senate elections, securing 43 of 46 available seats. The election, which took place in late February, signifies the conclusion of a political transition that followed Deby’s ascendancy to power after his father’s passing four years prior.

Deby was elected for a five-year presidential term in May 2023; this election was largely marginalized due to an opposition boycott and faced criticism from international NGOs as “neither free nor credible.” The Constitutional Council later confirmed alterations in seat allocation due to appeals from allied parties, redistributing two seats initially won by the MPS. Following the election results, Deby appointed the remaining 23 senators to finalize the legislative chamber.

This new Senate is part of a bicameral parliament established through reforms in 2020 and ratified by a December 2023 constitutional referendum. In concurrent legislative elections, the MPS maintained a significant presence in the lower house, winning 124 out of 188 seats, despite broad boycott claims of rigged processes by opposition groups. The elections unfolded amidst heightened security issues, particularly from Boko Haram’s activities in the Lake Chad area and the recent cessation of military cooperation with France.

The MPS’s overwhelming victory in Chad’s senate elections emphasizes Mahamat Idriss Deby’s consolidation of power. Even as opposition factions boycott and criticize the political process, the MPS’s control in both legislative chambers indicates a decisive shift in Chad’s political landscape. These elections occur against a reality of growing security challenges, underscoring the complexities facing the new government.

Original Source: newscentral.africa