As a candidate for the 2025 presidential election , Simone Ehivet Gbagbo intends to embody a political alternative based on competence, sovereignty and social transformation. At the head of her party, the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC) , the former First Lady proposes a program structured around seven major commitments , which she describes as “seven flying buttresses” to support the Côte d'Ivoire of tomorrow.

A figure of resilience and political experience

At 76, Simone Gbagbo returns to the forefront with a unique journey marked by passion and perseverance. From trade union activist to MP, then First Lady, and now a candidate for the highest office, she remains one of the most prominent faces in Ivorian political life.

His journey—from university to prison, then from the benches of the National Assembly to the campaign stands—encapsulates the paradoxes and struggles of a nation in search of democratic stability.

Reforming the State and Restoring Trust

The first pillar of the MGC program focuses on the renovation of public governance . Simone Gbagbo advocates for a complete digitalization of the administration , the establishment of independent offices to fight corruption and the protection of whistleblowers .

It also recommends the creation of an independent Election Observatory and a targeted revision of the Constitution, particularly on issues of nationality, land and national defence .

In terms of security and diplomacy, the candidate advocates increased professionalization of the armed forces and a sovereign foreign policy , open to a diversification of strategic partnerships .

National economy and sustainable industries

The second commitment aims for an inclusive economic recovery , focused on diversification and the creation of local value .

Agriculture, a key sector, would be modernized through mechanization and land security . Industrialization is also at the heart of its strategy, with the creation of modern industrial zones , increased support for SMEs and the ambitious goal of bringing industry to 30% of GDP within five years.

To support this dynamic, a fund of 1,200 billion FCFA would be dedicated to green industries and clean technologies , heralding a transition towards an ecological and sustainable economy .

Social, health and education: putting people back at the center

In the social sphere, Simone Gbagbo is promoting a policy of territorial equity . Free healthcare for pregnant women and children under 5 , the construction of 3,600 classrooms per year , and the promotion of technical and vocational education are among the priorities.

The MGC program also intends to give a central place to young people , through regional youth councils and more effective professional integration systems .

Culture, sport and tourism: a lever for cohesion and identity

Culture occupies a central place in the candidate's vision. She proposes the modernization of museums , the repatriation of Ivorian works of art held abroad , and support for creative industries .

Sport, for its part, would be democratized with the construction of regional complexes , while sustainable tourism would benefit from investments in infrastructure and training of professionals in the sector.

A strong commitment to the environment

The seventh commitment of Simone Gbagbo's program is devoted to environmental protection .

His plan includes a vast reforestation program aimed at achieving 30% forest cover by 2060 , the construction of 150,000 ecological social housing units , and the decontamination of urban centers .

Coastal management and the prevention of climate risks are also among the priorities, thus placing its project within a logic of long-term sustainable development .

A political career marked by trials

Born on June 20, 1949 in Moossou , Simone Ehivet Gbagbo developed a political conscience very early on. An activist from her high school years, she discovered repression in 1966 during a student strike.

Her union involvement in the 1980s led her to work with Laurent Gbagbo , then a history professor, with whom she clandestinely founded the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) in 1982.

Elected as a member of parliament in 1995 and vice-president of the National Assembly, she became an influential figure in the Gbagbo regime after 2000. An active First Lady, she refused to limit herself to a ceremonial role, participating fully in her husband's political activities.

But the post-election crisis of 2010-2011 changed her trajectory: arrested and then sentenced to 20 years in prison, she was finally released in 2018 thanks to a presidential amnesty.

In 2022, she founded the Movement of Capable Generations , a break with her former party. Her divorce in 2023 from Laurent Gbagbo also marked the end of a long political and personal partnership.

The “capable Ivory Coast”: between faith, experience and national ambition

Today, Simone Gbagbo asserts a stance of experience and renewal. A convert to Pentecostal Christianity in 1998, she places her faith at the heart of her public engagement.

Her vision of a “capable Côte d’Ivoire” is based on a triptych: social justice, national sovereignty, and collective progress . For her, Ivorians have the means to build a modern and equitable state, supported by strong institutions and a renewed civic awareness.

On the eve of the 2025 presidential election, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo appears to be a unique candidate : that of a woman of conviction, forged by struggles, trials and faith.

Its structured and ambitious program proposes a refoundation of the Ivorian state around seven pillars — economic, social, cultural and environmental.

It remains to be seen whether this vision of a “capable Ivory Coast” will be able to rally an electorate in search of stability, justice and renewal.