Former Ivory Coast Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan has been officially chosen to represent the Popular Ivorian Front (FPI) in the country’s 2025 presidential election. N’Guessan’s nomination was solidified on Saturday at an FPI congress held in Yamoussoukro, where he received overwhelming support, securing 99.34% of votes from around 4,500 party members.
N’Guessan has led the FPI, the party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, since Gbagbo’s detention in The Hague on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The former Prime Minister has previously campaigned for the presidency, making unsuccessful bids in both 2015 and 2020, where he faced defeat against incumbent President Alassane Ouattara. After each of those defeats, N’Guessan rejected the outcomes and was briefly detained on charges of attempting to establish a “parallel government.”
N’Guessan’s campaign platform includes significant changes to the country’s political structure, such as abolishing the Senate and restoring presidential term limits. Meanwhile, Ouattara, whose last re-election sparked controversy, has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a fourth term.
N’Guessan’s candidacy sets the stage for a competitive election, reflecting ongoing debates within Ivory Coast over governance and political reform.
