From Biya Must Go to Biya for Ever: Understanding the Paths of Presidentialism in the Context of Democratic Consolidation

The restoration of multiparty politics in 1990 led to the organization of competitive elections. The presidential election of October 11, 1992 was fiercely contested between the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and the Social Democratic Front (SDF) at the end of which Paul Biya, the CPDM candidate, in power since 1982, won by a narrow margin to the detriment of Ni John Fru Ndi, the SDF candidate. The legislative elections of March 1 of the same year in which the SDF did not take part were not equally competitive. The CPDM was unable to obtain an absolute majority in the National Assembly thanks to the play of alliances. Unlike these first elections which were tough for the CPDM, those organized subsequently restored the colors of the single-party system in view of the scores garnered by the former single party. How can we account for the comeback of the CPDM and its President, who was “condemned” without appeal in the aftermath of the restoration of multiparty politics? This article analyses the socio-political mechanisms deployed by this party to retain and seize political power since 1982, based on a number of socio-political theories, namely the theories of ruling authoritarianism, rational choice and political clientelism.

Keywords: Political Party, Election, Single-Party System, Multi-Party System, Power.