GP: Ivory Coast Denounces Election Results

Guest Post: Georges from Ivory Coast

Ivorian Party FPI denounced the results of the elections of the 21^st of April

On Wednesday 24^th of April, the FPI (Front Populaire Ivoirien) held a press conference in order to express its point of view regarding the results of the first rounds of the regional and municipals elections, which took place on Sunday 21^st of April. According to Mr Richard Kodjo, spokesperson of the FPI, the elections that took place were only a “masquerade” whose goal was to give more power to President Alassane Ouattara. Indeed, the party denounced the results and added that it only portrayed the illegitimacy of the regime in place, illustrating the fraud President Ouattara is guilty of.

The FPI, which still proclaims Laurent Gbagbo as legitimate president of Côte D’Ivoire, spent a long time explaining how President Ouattara's use of repressive methods against and non-democratic methods on different parties in Côte D’Ivoire, more precisely on the FPI itself. “Political violence in Côte D’Ivoire has always been on the side of the current holders of state power” said Mr Kodjo, affirming the position of the FPI regarding President Ouattara’s legitimacy as Head of state.

Mr Kodjo ended by restating that the party would not recognize the results of the elections as legitimate and by inviting all democrats and “progressive forces” to unite against President Ouattara.

Random Georges thoughts: The first thing that came to my mind while reading the first lines of this article was: “Are they complaining again?” Indeed, this press conference only shows what the FPI has been doing ever since President Gbagbo lost his position as Head of state. It is really unfortunate that the party keepn blaming President Alassane Ouattara (and the international community) for what happened in Côte D’Ivoire after the 2010 presidential elections. According to Mr Richard Kodjo, who qualified Laurent Gbagbo as rightful president of Côte D’Ivoire, these elections only portrayed the illigitimacy of President Allassane Ouattara. This is far from the “national reunification” many Ivorian politicians (and people) keep talking about.

This is the kind of comments that will not help Côte D’Ivoire move forward. It is absolutely impossible to talk about “unity” and “national reconciliation” while bringing ghosts from the past into play. This only shows how desperate for power the FPI is. It should be acknowledged that the party decided to boycott the elections, saying that it was an “electoral parody." No wonder they now complain, since this decision made them lose almost any say. It gives the image that the FPI was just too scared of losing to actually go into the election process (at least that’s what I think). To sum up, if we really want to have peace in our country, we should stop looking at the past and focus on the future. By working together, we will achieve greatness. But by pointing at each other “faults”, nothing productive will be done.