Senegal-The ruling coalition says it has obtained a majority in the legislative elections


DAKAR, Aug 1 (Reuters) – Senegal’s ruling coalition claimed victory in 30 of Senegal’s 46 departments on Monday after legislative elections took place on Sunday, giving it a slim majority in parliament.

Former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, head of the national majority list, announced the partial results on television from party headquarters.

“(These results) give us an indisputable majority,” she added, without however indicating how many seats the ruling coalition had won.

The mayor of Dakar, Barthelemy Dias, head of the list of the main opposition coalition, immediately denounced Aminata Toure’s announcements, believing that it was not her place to announce the results of the elections.

“The people will respond, they will take to the streets tomorrow and you will tell us how you got your majority,” he said.

The political context in Senegal, considered one of the most stable democracies on the African continent, has deteriorated, in part due to concerns that its president, Macky Sall, may seek to extend his rule beyond the constitutional two-term limit.

Tensions erupted last year after Ousmane Sonko was temporarily detained on charges of rape, charges denied by the opposition leader.

Violent protests erupted last month after the main opposition coalition had its national list invalidated by Senegal’s National Council due to an error in its constitution. (Reportage Diadie Ba; Rdig by Bate Felix; French version Camille Raynaud)



Source link -88