Simone Gbagbo proposes electoral reform and offers forgiveness to France and Ouattara

In a recent interview with France 24, former Ivorian First Lady and presidential candidate Simone Ehivet Gbagbo addressed her political divorce from ex-husband Laurent Gbagbo and her vision for Côte d'Ivoire's future. Speaking from Paris, her first visit to France in nearly two decades, she expressed a desire to move forward, stating, “The past remains the past. Today, I believe we must move forward.”

Regarding the 2010 post-electoral crisis, Gbagbo addressed her arrest and the role of international actors. She criticized the presence of French forces and media during her detention, noting that they observed her treatment without intervening. However, she declared that she has forgiven both Alassane Ouattara and France.

Politically, Gbagbo proposed the creation of a High Electoral Council composed of members without party representation to oversee elections. This comes following her 2.4% result in the recent presidential election, a performance she described as a “great disappointment.”