The Patriotic Salvation Movement, led by Mahamat Idriss Deby, has won 43 of 46 seats in Chad’s first senate elections, marking a crucial step in the political transition initiated four years ago. With previous elections boycotted by the opposition, the MPS also secured a strong majority in the lower house, although international NGOs criticized the electoral process. Amid growing security challenges, Deby’s consolidation of power continues to raise concerns about the nation’s political future.
Chad’s Patriotic Salvation Movement (PSM), led by military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby, has convincingly secured 43 out of the 46 seats in the nation’s inaugural senate elections. The vote, conducted at the end of February, represents a crucial step in the political transition that commenced following Deby’s ascension to power after his father’s demise four years ago.
Following the elections, it was confirmed by Chad’s Constitutional Council that while two MPS seats were initially allocated, they were later transferred to allied parties due to appeals. Additionally, Deby took immediate action by appointing the remaining 23 senators required to finalize the chamber, which is intended to embody the country’s autonomous communities.
The newly instituted senate is part of Chad’s bicameral legislature established through 2020 reforms and subsequently validated via a December 2023 referendum. The MPS also achieved significant success in December’s legislative elections, capturing 124 out of 188 seats in the lower house, despite widespread opposition boycotting, which led critics to label the results as “pre-fabricated.”
These elections occurred amidst escalating security challenges, notably including assaults from the jihadist group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area and the recent cancellation of a military collaboration with France, the nation’s former colonial power.
In conclusion, the Patriotic Salvation Movement’s overwhelming victory in both the senate and legislative elections underscores Mahamat Idriss Deby’s strengthening grip on power in Chad. Despite significant opposition boycotts and international criticisms regarding the credibility of these elections, the PSM’s dominance illustrates a stable phase in the nation’s political landscape, as it confronts ongoing security concerns.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
