Ivory Coast’s ruling party has further consolidated its grip on power after recording a sweeping victory in the country’s parliamentary elections held on Saturday, final results released by the Independent Electoral Commission have shown.
The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) won 197 of the 255 seats in the National Assembly, representing about 77 percent of the legislature. The result expands the party’s majority just two months after President Alassane Ouattara was re-elected for a controversial fourth term.
Voter turnout remained low at approximately 35 percent, reflecting a continued decline in electoral participation across the country.
The RHDP dominated its traditional strongholds in the northern regions, in some cases securing all available seats, while also making notable gains in the south and west—areas historically aligned with opposition parties. Electoral officials reported that the elections were largely peaceful, with only isolated incidents that did not affect the overall outcome.
Opposition parties suffered significant setbacks. The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) saw its parliamentary representation reduced by half, while the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo, which had called for a boycott of the polls, failed to win any seats.
With the latest outcome, President Ouattara now holds decisive influence over key state institutions. While supporters argue that the result strengthens political stability, critics warn that it further narrows political space and weakens democratic checks and balances in the country.
