President of the Pdci-Rda, Tidjane Thiam is the natural candidate of this Ivorian political party for the 2025 presidential election. However, Jean-Louis Billon legitimately harbours the same ambition within the same party. Will there be a battle between these two pundits? It does not say its name. But the ‘war’ remains unresolved between two Pdci-Rda pundits on the eve of the 2025 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire: Tidjane Thiam, the party’s current president, and Jean-Louis Billon, an influential member of the same political organisation.
But what could possibly pit these two ‘spirits’ of Côte d’Ivoire’s oldest political party against each other at a crucial time when understanding and cohesion are more than necessary?
It should be stressed that this sort of internal opposition in the run-up to major elections in the Pdci-Rda is not new, although it is not the perfect example. There have been duels between Laurent Dona Fologo-Henri Konan Bedie, Djedje Madi-Bedie, and now Thiam-Billon. All on the eve of major internal and national elections. But one of the oldest political parties in West Africa has always landed on its feet after these family upheavals.
Billon frustrated but determined
His stated ambition to run for the supreme office of Côte d’Ivoire does not date from now. Nor is it linked to the presence of Thiam at the head of the Pdci-Rda in recent times. Jean-Louis Billon had already made his presence felt when Henri Konan Bedié was still alive and presiding over the destiny of their party. He was prepared to do anything to stand as his party’s candidate. For this reason, he even had a falling out with the Sphinx of Daoukro before publicly apologising to the latter. In all his TV, radio and print appearances over the past three years, Jean-Louis Billon has made no secret of the fact. His desire to be the Pdci-Rda candidate for the 2025 presidential election is known to everyone in the Pdci in particular and in Côte d’Ivoire in general. He says it loud and clear: ‘I confirm my determination to maintain my candidacy. I confirm my determination to maintain my candidacy for the 2025 presidential election. My commitment to you and our vision for a better future remain intact. Together, let’s build a stronger and more inclusive future for our community’, Billon stressed in the press. After the death of Konan Bedié, he would have passed with flying colours at the head of the Pdci had Thiam not returned to the party. A member of the party’s political bureau made this clear.
‘Billon’s candidacy is legitimate, because he has always been part of the party and has always expressed this desire. But it will be very difficult, because Thiam controls the party apparatus. What’s more, the momentum that brought him to the top has not run out of steam. But difficult does not mean impossible. If the residency clause were reactivated to invalidate Thiam’s candidacy, Billon would have to be ready’, he reveals.
Billon, plan B for Pdci-Rda?
This is a major revelation, and its feasibility unlikely. But politics is so versatile that nothing should be overlooked when a phrase or a word is uttered. So would Jean-Louis Billon position himself as plan B for the Pdci-Rda in the 2025 presidential election, should Tidjane Thiam be eliminated by the residency clause? However slim the possibility, it is indeed on the minds of the party’s dignitaries. And Romain Porquet, former protocol officer to ex-president Bedié, lifts a corner of the veil: ‘There’s no such thing as a residency clause. There is no feud between Thiam and Billon. But you always have to have a plan A and B. If Thiam couldn’t run and was eliminated, what would we do?’ asks this influential party member.
Would Billon be prepared to play second fiddle because of his status, seniority and recent influence in the Pdci?
For his part, Thiam is not fooled. He knows the party texts and above all the constitution of Côte d’Ivoire. He cannot take the risk of being elected leader of the Pdci-Rda in the knowledge that he will not be eligible for the 2025 presidential election. According to corroborating sources, internal mediation is underway within the Pdci-Rda to avoid a real confrontation between two of the party’s values in the presidential election. This would be to the detriment of the ruling party. As Pdci-Rda has always managed to get away with this type of internal conflict, it will no doubt follow its own rule.
Photo: Jean-Louis Billon’s campaign poster for the 2021 legislative elections
Marie De Dieu
