Former President Laurent Gbagbo blows hot and cold concerning his political future in Côte d’Ivoire: now president of a new opposition party, he said he wanted to play politics until his death, while ensuring prepare for his departure.
“Gbagbo is back”, rejoiced Tuesday, October 19 the editorial of The Original Way, weekly close to the former head of state. In a meeting atmosphere, the launching congress of the Party of African Peoples-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) indeed dedicated this weekend the return of Laurent Gbagbo to the forefront of the Ivorian political scene. At 76, he is again president of an opposition political party ” from the left “ and ambitions “Pan-Africanists”.
What spice up Ivorian political life, largely dominated for ten years by the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), of President Alassane Ouattara. “We will see if their ambition is to be an opposition like the one we have known in the past, with daily monitoring of government action, a call for marches, meetings, or if they will be in a salon opposition posture “, underlines political analyst Sylvain N’Guessan.
“He is no longer master of his destiny”
At first glance, Laurent Gbagbo is still preparing for a new political fight, with the presidential election of 2025 in the sights. But does he really still have the cards in hand to decide his political future? The executive’s plan to lower the age limit for running for president to 75 could thwart his ambitions. “He is no longer the master of his own destiny, insofar as if the ruling party, which has a majority in the National Assembly, decides to modify the Constitution, it is the end of its presidential ambitions. He tries to galvanize his militants while knowing that the rest does not depend on him ”, points Sylvain N’Guessan.
And Sunday, he cleverly maintained the vagueness of his personal ambitions. “I will be in politics until I die”, first launched the one who returned in mid-June to Côte d’Ivoire after being acquitted by international justice of crimes against humanity in the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011. “My ambition today is to leave. At this age, after this journey, wisdom is to prepare to leave ”, he then affirmed, assuring that the party of which he has just taken the head is a “Structure to prepare [son] withdrawal “. “How can we leave tomorrow and not cause damage to our combat instrument?” “, asked the former president, who promises not to leave ” suddenly “.
“He didn’t set a date. He suggests that he will need time to train his employees ”, believes Sylvain N’Guessan.
With the FPI, “the break is over”
Tuesday evening, on France 24, Laurent Gbagbo remained just as evasive about his intentions. Asked about his candidacy for 2025, he replied: ” I do not know ! “, adding: “There are times when certain burdens come upon you. I’m not excluding anything. ”
After this weekend’s congress, where his person was at the heart of each intervention, it is difficult to imagine for the moment the brand new PPA-CI living without Gbagbo. “To be honest, Laurent Gbagbo’s new party is nothing other than his former Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) presented in a new envelope”, tackles the editorialist Venance Konan, close to power, in Morning Brotherhood.
It remains to be seen the extent of the militant base that will follow him after his break with the FPI, his historic party, now in the hands of his former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan. “We have turned the page on these attempts at unity, the rupture is made and each one makes his way”, commented the latter, Monday, on TV5.
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