Chad - 2011 Elections
The government, headed by President Idriss Déby Itno and dominated by his Zaghawa clan, is characterized by a strong executive branch that controls the political landscape. President Déby Itno, who was one of the country’s leading generals, came to power in a coup in 1990. He won reelection in 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011. In 2007, the government and political parties signed the August 13th Accords, which set conditions for transparent elections in 2010 and 2011. The August 13th Accords, negotiated with the assistance of the EU and other international partners, including the US, emphasized the creation of conditions to enhance good governance.
Following the political crisis caused by the constitutional revision of 2005, which allowed president Déby to appear before the voters for a third term in 2006, the international community (France, EU and OIF) has supported the political dialogue inter-tchadien under the "political agreement to strengthen the democratic process in Chad" concluded on 13 August 2007.
This process allowed the holding of legislative and presidential elections in 2011. The elections were held in February 2011, giving an absolute majority in the presidential party (Patriotic Movement of Hi - MPS), with 114 seats out of 188. The election has generally kept in good conditions. The presidential election was held on April 25, 2011. The three main opposition candidates, denouncing the lack of transparency of the vote, announced the "suspension" of their application and called for a boycott.
International observers, including the EU, African Union, Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, and government and opposition-affiliated civil society actors, deemed the 2011 legislative elections legitimate and credible. There was no election-related violence or evidence of a systematic effort to deny voters their right to choose freely. Security and government officials generally maintained a neutral posture during the election campaign.
Although fraught with operational problems, international observers including the EU, African Union, and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the pan-African civil society group Coordination des Experts Electoraux Africains, and government and opposition-affiliated Chadian civil society actors deemed the February legislative elections to be legitimate and credible. No violence was associated with the elections, and there was no evidence of a systematic effort to deny voters their right to freely choose. Opposition candidates were given equal access to and treatment by national television, and security and government officials generally maintained a neutral posture during the campaigns.
The presidential vote in April occurred without violence or incident, and the election was organized in a manner sufficiently consistent with international standards and local laws that the electorate was in general permitted free expression of choice. However, local groups criticized the lack of participation by the three opposition candidates and low voter turnout.
Political Parties: There were approximately 120 registered political parties. The main opposition coalition was well-treated, in part to provide proof that the country had a multiparty system; however, smaller opposition parties were subjected to government interference. Northerners, particularly members of the Zaghawa ethnic group, including the Bideyat subclan to which the president belongs, were overrepresented in key institutions of state power, including the military officer corps, elite military units, and the presidential staff. Opposition leaders accused the government of denying funds and equal broadcast time on state-run media.
President Déby was elected in the 1st round with 83% of votes (participation rate: 55%). The opposition contested these figures. The presidential vote in 2011 occurred without violence or incident. Local groups, however, criticized the lack of participation by the three opposition candidates and low voter turnout.
Local elections (the first in the history of the country) were held in January 2012 in 42 communes (10 districts of Ndjamena, 10 cities of over 20 000 and 22 district capitals). Won by the ruling party (MPS), they nevertheless allowed the opposition to win two major municipalities in the south.
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