Simon Doho, the president of this parliamentary group, called on the Ivorian government to organize an « urgent political dialogue » with less than ten months remaining until the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire.
During the press conference, the PDCI-RDA parliamentary group primarily demanded electoral reforms, including the restructuring of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), redistricting, and the organization of a Voter List Revision (RLE) starting in February 2025 for a period of one month. Simon Doho also announced that the PDCI-RDA parliamentary group has already drafted two proposed laws concerning the reform of the CEI and the electoral law.
Mr. Doho, who reminded everyone that the PDCI-RDA is a « party of dialogue, » added that these two proposed laws will be introduced in the National Assembly according to a political strategy and timeline being developed by the leading opposition force in Côte d’Ivoire. « It is more than urgent to take the necessary measures to prevent another social explosion in Côte d’Ivoire which, if left unchecked, will further destabilize the sub-region. It is imperative to act by activating all the levers that can contribute to organizing a transparent and peaceful presidential election in a calm atmosphere in October 2025, » he insisted.
The president of the PDCI-RDA parliamentary group thus called upon President Alassane Ouattara and CEI President Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert to take responsibility for the 2025 presidential vote. Regarding lobbying efforts, the speaker indicated that the PDCI-RDA parliamentary group has « initiated and will continue its rounds with the ambassadors accredited in Côte d’Ivoire as well as with European parliamentarians and institutions. » In addition, the United Nations (UN) will also be involved.
« Real Imbalance » at the CEI For his part, MP Likane-Yagui Jean criticized « a real imbalance that needs to be corrected » at the CEI, while denouncing the mandatory sponsorship system for presidential candidates. The MP then justified the proposed laws drafted by the PDCI-RDA, explaining, « These proposed laws are contributions to the political dialogue that will be established. They have been drafted with the sole objective of adding value to the construction of democracy and peace in our country. »
In turn, MP Brédou Brédou Athanase read a statement regarding the voter list revision (RLE) proposed to begin in February 2025 for a period of at least one month. « The CEI cannot hide behind any argument about deadlines being too short before the October 2025 presidential election, especially since it already organized an RLE from June 10 to 24, 2020—that is, barely three months before that presidential election. The proposed period in February for at least one month is more than sufficient given the stakes and taking into account the CEI’s previous experience, » he argued.
Following that, this PDCI-RDA representative stated, « The PDCI-RDA parliamentary group reminds that the budget required for this operation was approved by Parliament in the 2025 Finance Law, which allocates 27,558,000,000 CFA francs (see DPPD-PAP page 1277, RLE Allocation 2025) for the Ivorian state's budget. »
Me Blessy Chrysostome, also a member of the PDCI-RDA parliamentary group, drew attention to the fact that the CEI plans to include on the electoral list the new adults who will turn 18 in February 2025. According to him, this process should be extended to all Ivorians who meet the conditions to be voters, not just the new adults. « The CEI and the Ivorian State are obliged to conduct an RLE in 2025 (before the presidential election, editor’s note), » he asserted, basing his conviction on legal elements contained in the Ivorian electoral code and on the electoral calendar announced by the CEI.
