From exile in Paris on 31 October he told the faithful that the times of ‘indiscipline' and ‘betrayal' are over – referring to ex-PDCI heavyweight Jean-Louis Billon who ran as an independent and who was expelled by Thiam (AC Vol 66 No 21 Repression shrouds Alassane Ouattara's election procession)...

Jean-Louis Billon a trade minister under Ouattara and the ex-CEO of Sifca the country's largest agro-industrial conglomerate was dumped by Tidjane Thiam from his Parti démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) for the same reason that ex-president Laurent Gbagbo got rid of trusted lieutenant Ahoua Don Mello at the Parti des peoples africains – Côte d'Ivoire (PPA-CI) – they both suggested alternative candidate should the leaders were banned which duly happened...

In October 2024 Jean-Louis Billon announced his intention to run for president on behalf of the PDCI (AC Vol 65 No 22 Divided they stand)...

Despite a challenge from the also well-regarded former commerce minister Jean-Louis Billon one of the country's richest men Thiam is highly likely to be confirmed as the PDCI candidate at its convention...

On 25 October businessman and former trade minister Jean-Louis Billon announced that he intended to become the PDCI nominee for the presidency in October 2025...

Gbagbo was still blocked in Europe waiting for final ICC confirmation of his acquittal on charges of human rights crimes while the ageing Bédié had refused to make way for a younger and more dynamic PDCI representative such as former minister Jean-Louis Billon...

In all camps there are capable younger political figures – such as Jean-Louis Billon in Bédié's Parti démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) or Georges Ouegnin from the Gbagbo-loyalist Ensemble pour la démocratie et la souveraineté (EDS)...

It was rumoured that the threat of financial or tax probes hung over Thierry Tanoh and Jean-Louis Billon the most likely younger alternatives to Bédié as candidate for the opposition Parti démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI)...

Activists backing younger politicians such as Jean-Louis Billon or even Thierry Tanoh may voice dissent...