Former President Henri Konan Bédié, leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), was officially invested on Saturday September 12, 2020. He aims to return to power more than twenty years after he was overthrown by a coup d’etat following the coup by ex-president Laurent Gbagbo and former president of the National Assembly Guillaume Soro.
“I have just arrived in Yamoussoukro, for my investiture ceremony which will be held on Saturday September 12, place Jean Paul II. It is always an honor for me to return to the city of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, my godfather , founding father of modern Côte d’Ivoire. ” said Henri Konan Bédié.
Since his candidacy was validated by the Constitutional Council, however, he strongly denounced the other political leaders who were excluded in this race for the presidency: “I took note of the validation of my candidacy by the Constitutional Council. The Council Constitutional validated my candidacy. We remain in working order for the reconquest of state power and the construction of a reconciled, united and prosperous Ivory Coast. However, I denounce the validation of the unconstitutional candidacy of Mr. Alassane Ouattara and the arbitrary and undemocratic exclusion of major political leaders, notably Laurent Gbagbo, Soro Guillaume, Mabri Toikeusse, Mamadou Coulibaly and Amon Tant Marcel. We must remain in working order for the democratic alternation with a view to building a Côte d ‘Ivory reconciled, united and prosperous. “
Ivorians are called to the polls on October 31, 2020. They will elect their new president. Note that outgoing president Alassane Ouattara is a candidate for his own succession. He wants to run for a controversial third term.
