Jean-Louis Billon, a former trade minister of Ivory Coast, has announced his intention to lead the opposition Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) into the country’s October presidential election. His bid comes in the wake of a major political shake-up after prominent opposition figure and former Credit Suisse CEO, Tidjane Thiam, was disqualified from the race.
Thiam was removed from the electoral roll over nationality issues, despite renouncing his French citizenship in February to comply with Ivorian law, which prohibits dual nationality for presidential candidates. A court ruled that Thiam was still a French national at the time of his registration, leading to his exclusion from the final list of candidates published by the electoral commission. Thiam has criticized the ruling, calling it a blow to democracy, and vowed to continue fighting for his candidacy.
Billon, 60, criticized the PDCI leadership’s handling of Thiam’s case, blaming their lack of preparation for the legal mishap. While he is currently seeking the PDCI’s endorsement, he did not rule out representing another political faction if necessary, highlighting the fluidity of opposition politics ahead of the tense election.
“The elimination of President Thiam is a shame,” Billon told Reuters in Abidjan. “That’s why you always need several strings to your bow in politics.”
The upcoming election is already raising concerns due to Ivory Coast’s fraught political history. Disputes over national identity have previously sparked violence, notably the 2010 post-election crisis that killed around 3,000 people. Billon pledged to address these identity issues if elected, promising to propose legislation that lifts the ban on dual nationality.
Beyond identity politics, Billon laid out a reformist agenda that includes downsizing the civil service, combating corruption, enhancing private sector growth, and relocating more government functions to Yamoussoukro, the nation’s political capital.
As President Alassane Ouattara, 83, remains silent on his re-election plans, Billon made a call for generational change: “Ivory Coast will change. I think our elders have had their day.”
With the opposition in disarray, Billon’s ambition could reshape the race if he can secure the PDCI’s backing or forge a new path independently.
