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Tidjane Thiam: PDCI candidate removed from Ivory Coast electoral roll | Tidjane Thiam: PDCI candidate removed from Ivory Coast electoral roll |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The decision, which cannot be challenged, could end Tidjane Thiam's hopes of running for president | The decision, which cannot be challenged, could end Tidjane Thiam's hopes of running for president |
Ivory Coast's main opposition leader has been removed from the electoral roll by the judiciary which says he is ineligible to run in October's presidential election. | Ivory Coast's main opposition leader has been removed from the electoral roll by the judiciary which says he is ineligible to run in October's presidential election. |
Tidjane Thiam renounced his French citizenship in order to run for president, but a court argued on Thursday that the former Credit Suisse boss forfeited his Ivory Coast nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987. | Tidjane Thiam renounced his French citizenship in order to run for president, but a court argued on Thursday that the former Credit Suisse boss forfeited his Ivory Coast nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987. |
Thiam said the court's decision was an "act of democratic vandalism, which will disenfranchise millions of voters". | Thiam said the court's decision was an "act of democratic vandalism, which will disenfranchise millions of voters". |
His disqualification comes just a week after he was confirmed as the presidential candidate of the centre-right Democratic Party - the PDCI. | His disqualification comes just a week after he was confirmed as the presidential candidate of the centre-right Democratic Party - the PDCI. |
The governing RHDP party has not yet announced its candidate, but the current president, 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara, is likely to run for what would be a fourth term in office. | The governing RHDP party has not yet announced its candidate, but the current president, 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara, is likely to run for what would be a fourth term in office. |
Three other prominent figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have been barred from running. | Three other prominent figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have been barred from running. |
Reacting to the ruling, Thiam said: "It's no surprise that this court ruling comes as our support among voters continues to grow. | Reacting to the ruling, Thiam said: "It's no surprise that this court ruling comes as our support among voters continues to grow. |
"After 15 years in power, RHDP leaders are running scared. They want to monopolise power rather than face the judgement of the electorate." | "After 15 years in power, RHDP leaders are running scared. They want to monopolise power rather than face the judgement of the electorate." |
After becoming the first Ivorian to pass the entrance exam to France's prestigious Polytechnique engineering school, he returned to Ivory Coast and took up politics. | After becoming the first Ivorian to pass the entrance exam to France's prestigious Polytechnique engineering school, he returned to Ivory Coast and took up politics. |
In 1998, aged 36, he became planning minister before the PDCI was ousted from power in a coup the following year. | In 1998, aged 36, he became planning minister before the PDCI was ousted from power in a coup the following year. |
He then moved abroad and pursued a largely successful business career. | He then moved abroad and pursued a largely successful business career. |
Thiam has held senior positions in leading international businesses like Aviva, Prudential and Credit Suisse. He quit from the latter in 2020 following a spying scandal although he has been cleared of any involvement. | Thiam has held senior positions in leading international businesses like Aviva, Prudential and Credit Suisse. He quit from the latter in 2020 following a spying scandal although he has been cleared of any involvement. |
More BBC stories about Ivory Coast: | |
No wigs please - the new rules shaking up beauty pageants | |
A love letter to attiéké, Ivory Coast's timeless culinary treasure | |
West African bloc pins hopes on superhighway from Ivory Coast to Nigeria | |
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | |
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