France has welcomed the adoption by the Chad Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of an election calendar as part of a forthcoming major policy review in Chad, said the spokesman of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in a statement copied to APA Tuesday.
“This adoption is another important step in the implementation of the agreement between the Chadian political parties signed on 13 August 2007,” said Bernard Valero, referring to a basic text signed three years ago by seventeen parties comprising the presidential majority and the opposition, to strengthen the democratic process in Chad.
“France continues, alongside its European partners and the international community, to support the organization of free, democratic and transparent elections in Chad,” said the spokesperson of the Quai d’Orsay.
The calendar published last week by the INEC provides that Parliamentary elections will take place on 28 November 2010 and local elections on 12 December of the same year.
Moreover, the first round of presidential elections is planned to take place on 23 April 2011, while a voter registration will be held from March 21 to May 9, 2010.
The last presidential elections of 1996, 2001 and 2006 were contested by the opposition and civil society. All were won by Idriss Deby Itno, who seized power in 1990 following a coup.
As for the mandate of elected MPs in 2002, it was extended following the agreement of August 2007.
Source African Press Agency
