Senegal president’s party expected to win legislative elections after opposition leaders concede
President Faye is seeking a strong majority in the legislative elections to push forward his reform agenda.
Senegal's legislative elections show President Faye’s party in the lead. Opposition leaders concede defeat while votes are still being counted, easing concerns.
Senegal’s presidential party, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, is expected to win the country’s legislative elections after two key opposition leaders admitted defeat, even though votes are still being counted.
The election campaign had been intense, with supporters from different political groups clashing at times. There were fears of unrest, especially because Senegal had already experienced serious political violence in the months leading up to the presidential election in March.
President Faye is seeking a strong majority in the legislative elections to push forward his reform agenda. On election day, he voted in his hometown of Ndiaganiao.
After voting, Faye called on voters to stay calm and peaceful, no matter the results. He asked everyone to respect the outcome of the election, saying, "I once again call on voters... to show serenity, commit to the peaceful route, and to accept the popular will that will be expressed through the ballot box."
Though the final results are not yet available, early counts from polling stations suggest that Faye’s party, Pastef, is in the lead. A source from the country’s interior ministry confirmed this.
This has led two important opposition leaders to concede the election. Barthelemy Dias, the mayor of the capital city, Dakar, and the leader of the Gueum Sa Bopp Les Jambars party, said they accepted defeat.
Dias, who heads one of the opposition coalitions, SAMM Sa Kaddu, congratulated Pastef on its victory. “I would like to congratulate Pastef, the winner of the election,” he said.
However, Faye’s party still faces a challenge from an unexpected alliance between two opposition parties. One of these is the Republic party (APR), led by former Prime Minister Macky Sall. This coalition has yet to make an official statement on the election results.
The election is a crucial moment for Senegal, as it will decide who controls the country’s parliament and who will help President Faye carry out his plans for change. Many people hope that the results of the election will bring stability and peace to the country after months of political tension.
