The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), founded by the late President Idriss Déby Itno, has formally endorsed his son, General Mahamat Idriss Déby, as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election since January.
Since Friday, February 16th, the party has been inviting signatures at its headquarters in Ndjamena for a joint declaration of support for its candidate, already endorsed by 115 political parties. Other candidates have until Monday, February 19th, at 2 p.m. local time to make their decisions, according to internal sources. This strategy appears aimed at securing a dominant position for the ruling party before advancing the election date.
Officially, the investiture of Mahamat Déby Itno and the launch of a coalition to support his presidential candidacy are “an initiative” of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), its leaders solemnly declare. “The transitional president has not yet responded to our investiture proposal,” affirms its secretary-general, Mahamat Zéne Baba.
However, in reality, “this entire strategy has been devised in mutual agreement with the transitional president,” explains a senior MPS official. “The communication channels between him and Zene Bada are constantly open,” he insisted.
This arrangement serves the interests of both parties, according to political analyst Ramadji Hoïnathy. “Mahamat Idriss Déby lacks the time to establish a new party and relies on the MPS’s election machinery,” the researcher asserts. “Meanwhile, this alliance enables the party to maintain control over state resources,” he adds.
Currently, the transitional government is executing its plan to expedite the presidential election. According to our source, this is aimed at catching any potential competitors off guard who have not aligned themselves with the transitional president.
Having already established the Constitutional Council and the Election Organizing Agency in January, the Transitional National Council, which replaces the parliament, is set to adopt an electoral code project on Wednesday, February 21st. This is happening as an indicative timetable circulating within the corridors of power proposes May 24th as the date for the presidential election, just three months away.
In the meantime, the MPS is tallying its supporters, despite some close allies, such as the leader of the Alliance 43, Yoboïde Malloum Djeraki, refusing to commit until Mahamat Idriss Déby officially declares his candidacy and reveals his manifesto.