The ruling party in Côte d’Ivoire has strengthened its majority in parliament following elections held over the weekend, while the main opposition party, led by former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam, lost nearly half of its seats, according to preliminary results.
The strong performance of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) is expected to facilitate the implementation of President Alassane Ouattara’s agenda, which includes attracting private investment to the largest French-speaking economy in West Africa and the world’s leading cocoa producer.
Ouattara, 83, a former Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, who won a fourth presidential term in October, said he would use his mandate to pave the way for a new generation of political leaders.
According to preliminary results announced by the electoral commission on Monday, the ruling party secured 197 seats out of 255 in the National Assembly, up from 163 previously.
In contrast, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), led by Tidjane Thiam, won 32 seats, down from 65, while independent candidates secured 23 seats.
Voter turnout stood at 35.04%, compared with 37.88% in the last legislative elections held in 2021.
Ouattara first came to power in 2011 following a four-month civil war and was re-elected with more than 89% of the vote in the presidential election held on October 25, from which Tidjane Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo were barred. Gbagbo’s party boycotted this year’s legislative elections, arguing they lacked credibility.