Gbagbo’s party calls for I/Coast poll boycott

In Ivory Coast, the party of former President Laurent Gbagbo says it will make sure elections due on October 25 are not held. Boubacar Kone, interim spokesman of the Ivorian Popular Front party, told VOA the people of Ivory Coast have already begun organizing protests against the vote, seen by many as crucial to return […]

In Ivory Coast, the party of former President Laurent Gbagbo says it will make sure elections due on October 25 are not held.
Boubacar Kone, interim spokesman of the Ivorian Popular Front party, told VOA the people of Ivory Coast have already begun organizing protests against the vote, seen by many as crucial to return the country to stability since the violence that followed the 2010 presidential vote.
This came after the Constitutional Council released the names of 10 candidates, including President Alassane Ouattara, who will compete in the October election.
Kone said the process is invalid because President Ouattara is not eligible to stand for a second term, according to the constitution.
“What I can say is that this process is very badly started since Mr. Ouattara is not eligible according to our constitution. Secondly, our electoral commission is unbalanced and biased, which means the process is definitely unbalanced and unfair,” he said.