N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chad’s ruling party has emerged victorious in the recent parliamentary election, as per provisional results released late Saturday by Ahmed Bartchiret, the head of the electoral commission. The election, which marked the first parliamentary polls in Chad in over a decade, saw the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement party secure 124 out of 188 seats. Despite the boycott by the main opposition parties, voter turnout stood at 51.5%.
The parliamentary election was a crucial milestone in Chad’s transition to democracy, following President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s rise to power in 2021 after the passing of his father, longtime President Idriss Deby Itno. President Deby had characterized the election as a step towards decentralization, aiming to empower provincial and municipal levels of governance.
Regrettably, over 10 opposition parties, including the prominent Transformers party, chose to boycott the election. Succes Masra, the Transformers party candidate who placed second in the presidential election, was notably absent from the parliamentary race. The opposition raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process, echoing doubts over the credibility of the previous presidential vote.
Chad’s political landscape has been marred by security challenges, ranging from Boko Haram insurgencies in the Lake Chad region to the recent strain in military relations with France, a key ally. The election results, while indicating a consolidation of power for the ruling party, have yet to garner a response from the main opposition parties.
The outcome of the parliamentary election is poised to shape Chad’s governance and political dynamics in the coming years. As the nation navigates through a critical juncture, the implications of this electoral exercise reverberate beyond the confines of the political arena, influencing Chad’s trajectory towards stability and democratic consolidation.
