2024-09-15 14:38:51
Two months to the campaign. The ruling party, Pastef, decided to use popular influence which led to the landslide victory of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The latter, by announcing on Thursday September 12 the dissolution of the National Assembly and the postponement of early legislative elections on November 17, asked “to the royal people in a formal way” shed “for something to change the system” that he promised.
Five months after his election victory, the former opposition, who became Senegal’s youngest leader at 44, is faced with the banning of his “rupture” plan. His group, the African Patriots of Senegal for work, attitudes and relationships (Pastef), only has twenty representatives out of 165. The process to release therefore seems impossible in the eyes of an Assembly dominated by by loyalists of outgoing President Macky Sall. At the beginning of September, the latter united to write a project to revise the Presidential Law, aiming to eliminate two institutions that are considered budget-intensive.
Prime Minister Sonko on the front line
The stakes in the elections of November 17 are high. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who is likely to be elected as the head of the list, should use his popularity among the youth to campaign. “We are facing an unprecedented arrangement in Senegal with the Prime Minister who also has the role of party leader. At the end of this election, we should witness a political renewal,” political analyst Babacar Diagne, from the city of Wathi tank, based in Dakar.
In the National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko is the target of the former government coalition, Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY). The Prime Minister was saved at the last minute from a disciplinary motion. The opposition accused him of playing for time to postpone the announcement of his public policy. “Ousmane Sonko used every trick to disturb the structure of the parliament. Why didn’t he want to face the Assembly? He simply does not like contradiction and has no opinion.” attacked opposition MP Moussa Diakhate.
Great construction site
Bassirou Diomaye Faye promised to write a “New Senegal”, after twelve years of power Macky Sall. Far from the political scene, impatience is growing among the population. There is a lot of hope in this country where three-thirds of the population is under 35 years old.
Some of the key measures have already been taken, such as reducing the prices of certain essential materials, launching audits of public accounts and even suspending construction on the coast of Dakar. But the rest of his promises are slow to be implemented: the fight against the high cost of living and youth unemployment, the improvement of governance, the reform of oil and gas contracts, etc.
On September 8, the latest sinking of an illegal boat off the coast of Mbour, which left at least 39 dead and many missing, recalled another emergency. That offers an alternative to the dangerous path of young Senegalese to Europe.
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