Opposition leaders in Senegal have conceded that PASTEF party has established an unassailable lead according to early trends of the outcome of Sunday’s polls.
It seals a siesmic shift in politics in Senegal which began eight months ago when litle known Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the country’s fffth president after beating former prime minister Amadou Ba, ex president Macky Sall’s handpicked candidate.
The first indications of the early legislative elections, marked by a victory for the PASTEF party, have sparked several reactions from the main opposition coalitions, welcoming the democratic process and the maturity of the Senegalese people.
Barthelemy Dias and Amadou Ba, respectively leading the Samm Sa Kaddu (Keeping Your Promise) and Jamm
ak Njarin (Peace and Security) lists, have taken turns to congratulate PASTEF, the ruling party founded in 2014, as the “winner” of this election, while reaffirming their political commitment.
“I would like to warmly congratulate the winner of the elections, PASTEF, for their victory,” said Barthelemy Dias, also mayor of Dakar, describing the election as a “strong democratic moment.”
He expressed his gratitude to his supporters and promised to continue to defend the interests of Senegal.
“Your support is a source of inspiration and motivation to continue to defend the interests of our country and our
youth,” he added.
Bougane Gueye Dany, 11th on the Samm Sa Kaddu list and leader of the Gueum Sa Bopp Les Jambars movement, also welcomed the people’s choice.
“The Senegalese voted and confirmed their choice of March 24” where they had also elected the PASTEF candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, during the presidential election, with more than 54 percent of the
vote.
The businessman and head of the Dmedia group urged the presidential camp to now focus on meeting the needs of the Senegalese people.
The president of the Jàmm Ak Njarin coalition, Amadou Ba, for his part, welcomed what he called the historic significance of this election.
“This moment, beyond divisions, is a victory for our democracy and for Senegal. It reminds us that the essence of politics is to serve, listen and build together,” said Macky Sall’s former prime minister.
Former President Sall who is also the head of the list of the Takku-Wallu Senegal coalition has not yet reacted to the outcome of the polls.
“Beyond electoral competitions, it is Senegal that must always win, and it is Senegal that has won again today,” stressed Mr. Ba, congratulating PASTEF for their victory noted at the stage of the first counts which are continuing in several constituencies.
Meanwhile the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) reported no major incidents during Sunday’s vote.
Senegalese voters, both at home and abroad, participated in the legislative elections in a peaceful and organised atmosphere.
In a statement seen by APA at midday on Sunday, CENA expressed its satisfaction with the generally satisfactory conduct of the elections.
Since the opening of the 15,633 polling stations nationwide and the 807 abroad at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning, many Senegalese citizens exercised their civic duty, the CENA said.
Thanks to its network of inspectors present at all polling stations, the CENA said it was ensuring a rigorous monitoring of the election.
According to the electoral observation platform, based on a sample of 553 polling stations, the first results show a good organisation: “93.2 percent of the polling stations opened on time, 99.1 percent of the electoral material was available and complete, 98.76 percent of the voting proceeded normally and 95.66 percent of the polling stations had security guards manning them.
Voting closed by 18:00, soon after which the first provisional results became available.
ODL/ac/Sf/as/APA