In Senegal, 41 lists of candidates have been validated by the General Directorate of Elections to participate in the early legislative elections of November 17, 2024. Those unsuccessful have 24 hours to submit their appeals to the Constitutional Council before the publication of the final list. But one thing is already certain: the Senegalese will have to choose between a large number of candidates.
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With our correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
As a direct consequence of the absence of citizen sponsorship, candidate filter for these anticipated legislative elections, the Senegalese will have to choose between 41 lists of candidates. A scenario similar to that of 2017 with 47 lists at the time, reason why the ex-president of the country, Macky Sall (2012-2024), had introduced the obligation to have the signature of at least 0.5% of the electorate for the 2022 legislative elections.
“ A plethora of candidates which will lead to a polarization of the election and make small parties invisible », analyzes the professor of political science, Maurice Soundieck Dione, with voters who risk concentrating on the four best-known political movements: three on the opposition side, led respectively by Macky Sall, the former Prime Minister Amadou Ba and the former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall. And on the side of power, the African Patriots of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity (Pastef).
Pastef, which did not hesitate to put members of the government at the top of the list for some of the country’s 46 departments, such as the Minister of Health Ibrahima Sy in Podor.
Appeal by the opposition coalition led by Macky Sall
Among those rejected by the Ministry of the Interior for these anticipated legislative elections, two departmental lists from the Takku Wallu opposition coalition led by Macky Sall. Lack of sufficient candidates for the departments of Podor and West Africa. The coalition has 24 hours to present a corrected list.
Note that the opposition coalition Takku Wallu Senegal filed an appeal on October 7, 2024 before the Constitutional Council against the candidacy of the current Prime Minister Ousmane Sonkoin the legislative elections of November 17, 2024. Takku Wallu Senegal asks the Council of Elders to rule on his possible ineligibility, following his sentence to 6 months in prison suspended in May 2023 for defamation.
Also readLegislative elections in Senegal: former President Macky Sall leaves his post as special envoy of the Paris Pact
As a reminder, the President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Fayeelected in March with 54% of the vote, found himself with a Parliament dominated by supporters of former head of state Macky Sall. It announced its dissolution in September, causing early legislative elections.