Gbagbo waits to declare his candidacy for presidency in Cote d'Ivoire
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - Acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes and crimes against humanity, former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo felt relief, after the announcement on Thursday in Abidjan, by President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire, that he would not seek a third term in the presidential election set for October 2020.
Gbagbo has been living in Brussels for the past two years with his second wife, the former First Lady's rival, Simone Gbagbo.
A candidate of less weight in the race for the supreme magistracy in Côte d'Ivoire could only be beneficial to Gbagbo, who only dreams of returning to power through the ballot box.
Gbagbo is restricted in Brussels because he must remain at the disposal of justice while awaiting his acquittal (amnesty?) for the attack on the Ivorian national bank during the post-electoral unrest in Côte d'Ivoire.
The other leading candidate, Guillaume Soro, has already announced his candidacy for the October presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire.
Accused of attempting a coup d'état after the discovery of weapons of war at his residence in Abidjan, Soro has since been living in exile in France.
Gbagbo, for his part, can only stand as a candidate if he freely returns to Côte d'Ivoire. In case the Ivorian justice system sentences him to a heavy prison sentence for the attack on the National Bank of Côte d'Ivoire before the scheduled date of the presidential election, he will not be able to stand as a candidate.
However, he may then stand as a candidate for the supreme magistracy, with a good chance of winning. But he must have complete freedom of movement, in time to submit his candidacy in due and proper form and to conduct his campaign.
-0- PANA AK/IS/MTA/AR 6Mar2020
