Elections in Senegal: President Faye wants to maintain power as voting starts in hasty polls

S
enegalese voters headed to the polls Sunday (November 17) in snap parliamentary elections, with the nation’s new leadership seeking a decisive majority to advance its reform agenda.“I hope that (the ruling party) Pastef will win the elections to gain a majority so that they can better carry out their mandate,” said 56-year-old Pascal Goudiaby, stating that unemployment was a key issue.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who assumed office in March after a landmark election, has pledged economic transformation, social justice, and a crackdown on corruption.
His promises have resonated well with a predominantly young population that is grappling with high inflation and widespread unemployment in the African nation.
Why snap elections were called in Senegal
Senegal has long been regarded as a beacon of democracy in Africa, noted for its peaceful transitions of power and robust political institutions. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the country has maintained a tradition of democratic governance, setting it apart in a region often marred by political instability.
However, Faye’s initial months in office were challenged by an opposition-controlled parliament, leading him to dissolve the legislative body in September and call for early elections at the earliest constitutional opportunity.
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Ruling Pastef party is the frontrunner
Approximately 7.3 million registered voters are tasked with electing 165 members of parliament for five-year terms in this poll.
Analysts are suggesting that Senegalese voters typically align parliamentary choices with their presidential preferences, positioning the ruling Pastef party as the frontrunner.
Despite heated campaign rhetoric, the pre-election period experienced only sporadic incidents of violence.
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 6 pm local time (1800 GMT). Reliable projections of the new parliamentary composition are expected to star coming in by Monday (November 18) morning.