DAKAR, Senegal: President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition claimed victory in Senegal’s legislative elections however the opposition rejected the statement as a “prefabricated majority”. “We received 30 departments” out of the 46 within the west African nation and out of the country constituencies, Aminata Toure, head of the presidential coalition, informed newshounds overdue Sunday.

“This certainly provides us a majority within the Nationwide Meeting.” “We’ve got given a majority within the Nationwide Meeting to our coalition president”, Sall, she added, with out giving the selection of seats received by means of her camp or whether or not it used to be an absolute or relative majority.

Toure alternatively said her coalition have been defeated within the capital Dakar in Sunday’s vote. The opposition used to be swift in rejecting Toure’s claims. Barthelemy Dias, a pace-setter of the principle opposition coalition headed by means of former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, spoke of “vulgar lies” and a “prefabricated majority” on personal radio RFM.

“Cohabitation is inevitable. You misplaced this election on the nationwide degree. We can now not settle for it. This abuse is not going to move,” stated Dias, who could also be the mayor of Dakar. The opposition had was hoping the elections would impose a cohabitation, or divided executive, on Sall and curb any ambitions he will have for a 3rd time period.

Sunday’s polls have been the most important take a look at for Sall after native elections in March noticed the opposition win in main towns, together with Dakar, Ziguinchor within the south and Thies within the west. The only spherical of balloting will come to a decision the 165 seats of the single-chamber parliament-currently managed by means of the president’s supporters-for the following 5 years. Sall has promised to nominate a chief minister-a place he abolished after which restored in December 2021 — from the successful camp.

Opposition collaboration

Some seven million Senegalese have been eligible to vote within the election, which handed with none main incidents. Turnout at a number of polling stations seemed reasonably low, consistent with AFP correspondents and observers, and the internal ministry stated participation had reached 22 % by means of 1 pm.

Provisional total effects are anticipated no later than Friday. “I am hoping… there aren’t any disputes,” stated Lamine Sylva, a 60-year-old artist who voted at a faculty in Mbao, close to Dakar. “It’s like football-there is a winner and a loser.” Yahya Sall, a retired soldier, stated he was hoping the brand new parliament “could have a powerful opposition presence… to advance democracy”. The nationwide election fee has deployed 22,000 observers national. Professionals from the regional ECOWAS bloc have been additionally provide.

Lawmakers are elected consistent with a machine that mixes proportional illustration, with nationwide lists for 53 lawmakers, and majority balloting within the nation’s departments for 97 others. The diaspora elects the remainder 15 contributors of parliament.

This yr, 8 coalitions are within the operating, together with Yewwi Askan Wi (“Free up the Folks” in Wolof), the principle opposition coalition of Sonko, which got here 3rd within the 2019 presidential election. However he and different contributors of the coalition have been banned from operating in Sunday’s elections on technical grounds.

Forward of the ballot, Yewwi Askan Wi joined forces with Wallu Senegal (“Save Senegal”), led by means of former president Abdoulaye Wade. The 2 teams agreed to paintings in combination to procure a parliamentary majority and “pressure governmental cohabitation”.

Emerging costs 

The vote happened towards a backdrop of emerging costs, partly as a result of the struggle in Ukraine. The opposition has wondered the priorities of the federal government, which has highlighted its subsidies for oil merchandise and meals in addition to infrastructure development. “Is the concern of the Senegalese to construct stunning stadiums, new highways whilst other people don’t seem to be consuming?” Sonko stated after casting his poll in Ziguinchor. The opposition additionally desires to pressure Sall to surrender any hope of operating for a 3rd time period.

Sall, 60, used to be elected in 2012 for seven years then re-elected in 2019 for some other 5. He has been accused of short of to wreck the two-term restrict and run once more in 2024. He has remained obscure at the matter, however any defeat of his supporters in Sunday’s vote may dissatisfied such plans. “If Macky Sall loses them (the legislative elections), he’s going to now not discuss a 3rd time period,” Sonko stated. The 21-day election crusade handed in a most commonly calm setting.

The pre-campaign length, alternatively, used to be marked by means of violent demonstrations that left no less than 3 other people useless after a number of contributors of the principle opposition coalition, together with Sonko, have been banned from collaborating. On June 29, the opposition eased tensions by means of agreeing to participate within the elections, which it had threatened to boycott. – AFP