Senegal’s head of state, Macky Sall, announced this Saturday the repeal of the decree that set February 25 as the date for the country’s presidential elections, postponing the electoral law “indefinitely.”
The decision follows the creation of a parliamentary commission that is investigating two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the electoral process is in dispute.
“I have signed the decree of February 3, 2024, which cancels the decree” of November 26, 2023, which set presidential elections for February 25, 2024, the Senegalese president said in an address to the nation hours before the opening of Congress.
The Constitutional Council is an important organ of the electoral process in Senegal and is responsible for announcing the results of the presidential elections and resolving potential problems.
“I will initiate an open national dialogue to create the conditions for free, transparent and inclusive elections,” Sall said in a speech, without specifying a new voting date.
For the first time since 1963, Senegal’s presidential elections by direct universal suffrage have been postponed.
Campaigning for the presidential elections on the 25th in Senegal is due to begin today. 20 candidates approved by the Constitutional Council are vying to replace Macky Sall, who is barred by the Constitution from running for a third term again.
Ousmane Sonko, a popular opposition figure with strong support among young voters, and Karim Wade, son of former President Abdoulaye Wade (2000-2012), dropped out of the race.
Since his arrest in July, Sonko has been embroiled in a legal battle over his election bid.
Authorities accuse him of inciting insurrection, attacks on state security and links to a terrorist company, among other crimes.
Anticipating the impossibility of Sonko’s participation in the elections, members of his party “Patriots of Senegal for Labor, Ethics and Fraternity” (French abbreviation “Pastef”) nominated another party leader, Bassira Diomaye Faye, as their candidate. jailed for contempt of court, libel and spreading false news.
On July 3, 2023, Senegalese President Macky Sall, in power since 2012, officially confirmed that he would not seek a controversial third term.
In September, the president nominated current Prime Minister Amadou Ba as a candidate for the ruling coalition.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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