Burkina Faso’s opposition party names presidential candidate
Burkina Faso’s Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) Party will today nominate party leader Eddie Komboïgo as its presidential candidate for the country’s November general election.
The CDP was thrown out of power in Burkina Faso’s last election in 2015, after former president Blaise Compaoré’s attempt to extend his 27-year rule was met by a popular uprising. Since then, the centre-left People’s Movement for Progress (MPP) has controlled the government, led by President Roch Kaboré.
In addition to the presidential and legislative elections, Kaboré intends to hold a nationwide constitutional referendum in November, which would cement multiple progressive institutional changes including the abolition of the death penalty, an expansion of voting rights and a reduction of executive power. The CDP opposes the amendments.
With only 55 of the National Assembly’s 127 seats under control, the MPP may see its slim control eroded due to persistent jihadist violence and the economic fallout of COVID-19. A June poll found that 63% of respondents weren’t satisfied with Kaboré. Nevertheless, the strong challenge of another opposition leader—2015 presidential runner-up Zéphirin Diabré—will likely prevent the CDP from a direct return to power. Expect Diabré and Komboïgo to prevent Kaboré from attaining a simple majority, forcing a second round that could prompt a leadership change and threaten the fate of the referendum.
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