Chad’s Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) won 43 of 46 seats in the inaugural senate elections held in February 2023. The elections were a part of the political transition that began after Mahamat Idriss Deby took power in 2019. Criticized by international NGOs for their lack of credibility, both the senate and lower house elections faced significant opposition boycotts amid growing security concerns.
The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has claimed victory by securing 43 out of 46 seats in the nation’s inaugural senatorial elections, as reported in the final results released on Tuesday. This event, which occurred at the end of February, symbolized the conclusion of a political transition initiated following Deby’s ascension to power after his father’s death four years earlier.
Deby, who received a five-year presidential term last May through an election that saw opposition groups boycott, has been fortifying his hold on power. Notably, international NGOs criticized the electoral process, branding it as “neither free nor credible.” In the final count released by Chad’s Constitutional Council, two initially assigned seats to the MPS were reassigned to allied parties following appeals.
Following the election results, Deby appointed the remaining 23 senators necessary to complete the senate, which will represent the various autonomous communities of the country. This newly established senate forms part of Chad’s bicameral legislature, established through reforms in 2020 and subsequently ratified under a new constitution in a December 2023 referendum.
In December’s legislative elections, the MPS similarly dominated, winning 124 out of 188 seats in the lower house. These elections were also heavily boycotted by opposition groups, which condemned them as yielding “pre-fabricated results.” The elections were conducted amid rising security concerns due to attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, alongside the recent cessation of a military cooperation agreement with France, the former colonial power.
In conclusion, the Patriotic Salvation Movement has solidified its dominance in Chad’s political landscape through recent electoral successes, highlighting the consolidation of power under Mahamat Idriss Deby. Despite international criticism regarding the electoral credibility and significant opposition boycotts, the party’s victories in both the senate and lower house elections reflect a continued shift in Chad’s governance following decades of centralized control. As security issues persist within the region, the long-term implications of these electoral outcomes remain to be seen.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
