Chad’s ruling MPS party clinched 43 out of 46 senate seats in the nation’s first senate elections, symbolizing ongoing political consolidation under Mahamat Idriss Deby. Despite boycotts and criticisms of the electoral integrity, the MPS maintains dominance following previous legislative elections, amid rising security threats in the region.
Chad’s Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by military chief Mahamat Idriss Deby, has achieved a significant victory in the nation’s inaugural senate elections, winning 43 of the 46 available seats. This electoral event, concluded at the end of February, represents a crucial step in the political progression initiated by Deby after his father’s demise four years prior.
Deby, who previously secured a controversial five-year presidential term last year amidst an opposition boycott, has been centralizing his authority in Chad. The international community, including NGOs, criticized the presidential elections as lacking credibility and transparency. Following the senate results, Deby appointed an additional 23 senators to finalize the senatorial chamber representing Chad’s various autonomous communities.
The establishment of the new senate is part of a bicameral legislative framework introduced through reforms in 2020 and ratified by a December 2023 referendum. The legislative elections in December reaffirmed the MPS’s dominance, where they won 124 out of 188 seats in the lower house, amid widespread opposition boycott claims that the results were manipulated.
These electoral developments occur within the context of heightened security threats from groups such as Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area and the recent termination of military cooperation with France, its former colonial power. The political landscape, shaped by these challenges, reflects the broader issues facing Chad.
In summary, Chad’s MPS has solidified its political control through overwhelming victories in both the senate and lower house elections, despite widespread opposition boycotts and criticisms regarding the electoral processes. The establishment of a bicameral parliament marks a significant step in Chad’s political evolution following years of centralized governance under Deby. However, ongoing security concerns pose challenges to the new legislative body’s effectiveness.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
