The Patriotic Salvation Movement of the late President Idriss Déby Itno has nominated his son, General Mahamat Idriss Déby, as a candidate for the next presidential election since January. Since Friday February 16, the party has opened for signature, at its headquarters in Ndjamena, a joint declaration of support for its candidate, already signed by 115 political parties. The other candidates have until Monday, February 19, 2 p.m. local time, to decide, according to internal sources. The strategy would serve the power and the party to have a dominant position before bringing forward the date of the election.
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Officially, the inauguration of Mahamat Déby Itno and the launch of a coalition to run his presidential candidacy is “ an initiative » of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), its leaders swear hand on heart. “ The transitional president has not yet responded to our nomination proposal », assures its general secretary Mahamat Zéne Baba.
But in reality, ” this whole strategy was put in place by mutual agreement with the transitional presidentexplains a senior MPS executive. The communication channels between him and Zene Bada are permanently open “, he insisted.
This suits both parties, believes political scientist Ramadji Hoïnathy: “ Mahamat Idriss Deby does not have time to set up a new party and needs the MPS cheating machineharshly asserts the researcher. While this alliance allows this party to keep control of state resources », he adds.
Now, the transitional power is rolling out its plan which aims to organize the presidential election as quickly as possible. According to our source, “ to take by surprise all possible competitors who have not rallied to the transitional president “.
After setting up in January the Constitutional Council and the Agency responsible for organizing elections, the National Transitional Council which replaces parliament should adopt a draft electoral code on Wednesday February 21. This while an indicative timetable circulating in the corridors of power proposes the date of May 24 for the presidential election, i.e. in 3 months.
In the meantime, the MPS has its supporters. This is despite the fact that certain close allies, such as the leader of Alliance 43 Yoboide Malloum Djeraki, refuse to commit as long as Mahamat Idriss Deby has not applied and made his social project public.