Africa-Press. A coalition of about ten political parties has proposed the establishment of an “Independent Electoral Council” in Ivory Coast, following the dissolution of the independent electoral commission one month ago.
The initiative was revealed on Monday, June 8, during a press conference held by former First Lady Simone Ehivet, who participated in drafting the proposal submitted to the government.
This political alliance is led by Simone Ehivet, with support from former minister Charles Blé Goudé and the Ahoussou Don Melo party. They are calling for the creation of an independent body to manage electoral processes away from political parties and the executive authority.
According to the proposal, the Independent Electoral Council will consist of 11 members selected through a competitive and transparent mechanism, with appointments requiring approval from the National Assembly.
The council will include representatives from various sectors, including business, agriculture, and law, reflecting the diversity of Ivorian society, without including any representatives from political parties.
The project also stipulates that council members will serve for life, tasked with overseeing the organization of elections and reviewing the electoral register annually, aiming to enhance the independence of the electoral process and ensure its integrity.
It is noted that a similar proposal was made three years ago but did not receive a response from the authorities at that time. The supporting parties hope for a serious discussion this time regarding the future management of elections in the country.
Simone Ehivet, president of the Ivorian Popular Congress party, stated that the parties supporting the project strongly reject the Ministry of Interior’s responsibility for organizing elections, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue on this issue. She added that past experiences have shown that elections have frequently been a source of political crises in the country, arguing that dialogue and consensus on the mechanisms for organizing them are essential to avoid such crises.
In contrast, the two main opposition parties, the Ivorian Democratic Party and the African Peoples’ Party – Ivory Coast, are not participating in this initiative, which may limit the chances of achieving broad political consensus on the proposal.
