#Ivory Coast : Tidjane Thiam prepares his return to the Ivorian political arena. The former boss of the British insurance group Prudential and the Swiss bank Crédit Suisse is considering running for the highest office in Côte d’Ivoire, according to the British media The Telegraph.
However, for some time now, the banker has clearly shown signs of a real desire to return to the Ivorian political scene.
If the first act was his remarkable return to Côte d’Ivoire at the beginning of last August, following 22 years of absence, and the confirmation of his political anchorage in the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), at the same time, the British media The Telegraph just gave another sign. The British media claims that Thiam is “considering a candidacy to become the next president of Côte d’Ivoire”. The man even plans to renounce his French nationality, in order to comply with the Ivorian electoral code.
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Thiam might thus succeed Alassane Dramane Ouattara at the head of Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. For this, he has several advantages. First, grand-nephew of the first Ivorian president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, he might succeed in unifying the supporters of the PDCI.
Then, relatively young compared to the dinosaurs who have occupied the Ivorian political scene for several decades – Ouattara (80 years old), Bédié (88 years old) and Gbagbo (77 years old) -, Tidjane Thiam, 60 years old, might contribute to renewing the ruling political class. Ivorian woman and help to definitively turn the page on the political problems born of the divergent points of view of the “old people”. However, the ground is far from being completely cleared. Indeed, to achieve this, Henri Konan Bédié will have to agree to hand over the chair of the historic party to him.
>>> READ ALSO: Ivory Coast: Bédié, Gbagbo and Ouattara, these dinosaurs who do not want to retire from political life
Then, his outstanding managerial talents might give a new impetus to the Ivorian economy. The man has proven himself in big boxes like McKinsey, Aviva, Prudential and Credit Suisse. In addition, his background in business in Europe and his international aura are guarantees of confidence vis-à-vis foreign partners.
Still, the path to the presidential election of 2025 is strewn with pitfalls. Apart from the fact that the “old guys” are not planning to retire from the scene anytime soon, Thiam might also face other ambitious young people, even in his political camp. This is particularly the case of the ambitious Jean-Louis Billon, businessman and politician, very involved in the PDCI.
