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afrol News 9 April - With the election date 20 May finally confirmed by the Independent National Election Committee (CENI), preparations for Chad's presidential poll are starting. The opposition already protests against irregularities. Chad has never changed its head of state peacefully through elections. President Idriss Deby will be seeking his second five-year term in the May elections. Deby has ruled in Chad since taking power in a 1990 rebellion, and he was elected president in 1996. According to credible reports, fraud, widespread vote-rigging, and local irregularities marred both the 1996 presidential election and the 1997 legislative elections. Reports of "irregularities" in the forthcoming elections have already been reported. According to a presidential decree, the elections will take place over four days, between 17 and 20 May, to enable nomads and Chadians living abroad to participate. Another decree defines the Chadian electorate as consisting of 4,596,466 voters, 527,367 living abroad. It is by fixing this number, Chadian opposition leaders report "irregularities". Leaders of the main opposition parties of Chad, including the National Union for Development and Renewal (UNDR) and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), claim the electoral list has been compiled on false premises. The registration of voters between 29 January and 27 February had been rigged, both in the country and abroad, the leaders claim. The objective allegedly was to help President Deby win the May election. The opposition earlier had called for a postponement of the presidential elections, describing the polls as an "electoral masquerade". They wanted the polls postponed until the fighting had ended in the northern region of Tibesti, claiming orderly elections could not be carried out while there was fighting. This appeal was turned down by the government and later by the Election Committee. Meanwhile, at least seven candidates have registered for the presidential election, including President Deby and Minister of State, Saleh Kebzaboh, nominated on 1 April by his UNDR. One of Deby's former prime ministers, Kassire Coumakoye, was earlier nominated by the RDP. Coumakoye was prime minister from 1993 to 1995. Other registered opposition candidates include the parliamentarians Jean-Bawoyeu Alingué and Ngarledjy Yorongar. Analysts however give them limited chances, given Chad's troubled history when it comes to free and fair elections. The freest elections so far were celebrated in 1996, when coup leader Idriss Deby secured his position through popular vote - a poll marred by irregularities. Deby however can count on some popularity, although his strong presidency mostly is described undemocratic. Contrary to his predecessors, pragmatic President Deby has managed to provide Chadians with something resembling order and stability. After decades of civil war, mismanagement, cruel dictatorships and gross human rights violations, this is a factor that counts in Chad. Deby's human rights record also is tainted, but in a relative perspective, Chadians experience days of safety. If they will experience the freedom of changing their head of state through popular vote, however remains to be seen.
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