The ruling MPS party in Chad triumphed in the first Senate elections, winning 45 of 46 seats, strengthening President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s hold on power. The opposition has raised concerns over alleged electoral irregularities. The new Senate will comprise indirectly elected and presidentially appointed members, serving six-year terms. Chad’s political shifts are notable, particularly its changing relations with France.

Chad’s ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) secured a decisive victory in the inaugural Senate elections, winning 45 out of 46 contested seats. These provisional results, however, have been challenged by the main opposition party. This outcome enhances President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s authority since he assumed leadership in 2021 following his father’s death. Déby had previously garnered 61% of the votes in a contentious presidential election marred by allegations of fraud from opposing candidates.

In the legislative elections last December, primarily boycotted by opposition groups, the MPS secured a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. In the recent Senate elections, only one seat was won by the National Rally of Chadian Democrats (RNDT), led by former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke. Padacke has voiced concerns regarding alleged irregularities in the voting process, particularly in Moundou, Chad’s second-largest city.

The Senate will consist of 46 indirectly elected senators, chosen by municipal and provincial councillors, alongside 23 senators that will be directly appointed by the president. The newly elected senators will serve six-year terms, which are renewable. Under Déby’s rule, Chad, a crucial ally in the fight against Islamic extremism in the Sahel, has terminated its defense pact with France and suggested a withdrawal from a multinational security force in the region.

The recent Senate elections in Chad highlight the consolidation of power by President Mahamat Idriss Déby, with his party winning an overwhelming majority. Despite the opposition’s claims of irregularities, the electoral process has proceeded. As Chad navigates its political landscape post-election, the implications for its foreign relations, particularly with former ally France, remain significant.

Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za

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