Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, has secured the nomination to represent the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) in the upcoming presidential election, the party announced this week, as per The AP.
Thiam, currently the president of the PDCI, won the nomination with an overwhelming 99.5% of the vote, running unopposed.
The upcoming October election marks a significant moment for Ivory Coast, particularly after the controversial 2020 election which saw President Alassane Ouattara win a disputed third term, resulting in widespread violence and dozens of deaths following an opposition boycott.
Thiam’s path to political leadership follows a high-profile career in the financial sector. He resigned from his position as CEO of Credit Suisse in 2020 after a corporate espionage scandal that shook the Swiss banking giant. An independent investigation, however, cleared Thiam of any personal involvement in the illicit activities.
While Thiam has secured the PDCI nomination, the field of candidates for the October election remains uncertain. Current President Alassane Ouattara has hinted at the possibility of running again, setting the stage for a potentially contentious election cycle.
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