Chad’s ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement has secured a commanding majority in the country’s recent parliamentary election, according to provisional results.
Analysts believe the outcome reinforces President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s political control, following a vote largely dismissed by the main opposition.
The ruling party captured 124 of the 188 seats in the National Assembly during Chad’s first legislative election in over ten years.
Announcing the results on Saturday, electoral commission head Ahmed Bartchiret reported a voter turnout of 51.5%.
The parliamentary poll, held alongside regional and municipal elections, marked a pivotal step in Chad’s transition to civilian governance.
This process began when Mahamat Idriss Deby assumed power in 2021 after his father, longtime leader Idriss Deby Itno, was killed during a rebel clash. Mahamat later secured a contested victory in last year’s presidential election.
Deby hailed the election as a significant moment in Chad’s political journey, emphasizing its role in ushering in greater local governance.
He described it as a step toward “the era of decentralization so long-awaited and desired by the Chadian people,” underscoring plans to delegate authority beyond the central government.
However, the vote was overshadowed by a boycott from more than 10 opposition parties, including the prominent Transformers party led by Succes Masra.
Masra, who finished second in the presidential race, and other opposition leaders criticized the elections as a “charade” and raised concerns over fairness, likening it to last year’s presidential vote. No immediate reaction to the results has come from the opposition.
The election also unfolded against a backdrop of mounting security concerns. Chad continues to face violent incursions from Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad region, coupled with the diplomatic strain caused by a breakdown in its longstanding military partnership with France.
