Ivory Coast: Ruling Party Strengthens Hold on Parliament. Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast — The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), the ruling party in Ivory Coast, has further solidified its control over the country’s parliament following elections held on Saturday.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission, the RHDP secured 197 of the 255 seats, approximately 77 percent of the total, following President Alassane Ouattara’s re-election for a fourth term earlier this year.
The victory marks a significant expansion of the RHDP’s majority in parliament, which was already substantial. Voter turnout remained low, at about 35 percent, reflecting a downward trend in electoral participation in recent years.
The RHDP, which has strong support in the north of the country, dominated its traditional strongholds, winning all available seats in some regions.
It also made gains in the southern and western regions, which have historically been loyal to the opposition. Election authorities reported that the vote was largely peaceful, with isolated incidents that did not impact the overall outcome.
The opposition faced significant setbacks, with the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) seeing its representation halved and the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo, which had called for a boycott, losing all its seats.
Supporters of President Ouattara view the strengthened control of key institutions as a move toward stability.
However, critics are concerned that the results may indicate a shrinking of political space and weakened democratic checks.
The situation remains under observation, with further details and reactions expected in the coming days.
