The Republic of Chad has commenced voting in its presidential election, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
With a population of approximately 16 million, more than 8 million Chadian citizens eligible to vote will decide on the new head of state from among 10 candidates. Observers widely believe that the incumbent president during the transition period, Mahamat Idriss Debi Itno, and Prime Minister Succès Masra have the most significant chances of victory.
In late 2023, Chad's Supreme Court approved the country's new constitution, marking the establishment of the Fifth Republic and the initiation of general elections to transition back to civilian rule. This development holds particular significance for Africa's fifth-largest country by land area, where military coups have historically dominated the political landscape since independence in 1960, rather than democratic elections.
The new constitution reinstates Chad as a unitary state, with the position of Prime Minister, accountable to Parliament, being reinstated. The incumbent head of state is supported by the coalition "For a United Chad," comprising numerous political parties and associations. Conversely, Masra garners support from a broad opposition, notably the influential political movement "Transformers."
Presidential elections in Chad are conducted in two rounds, with a second round held if none of the candidates secures more than 50% of the votes in the initial round.
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Based on materials from TASS