Voting ongoing in Senegal elections, as Faye’s PASTEF battles for legislative control

Voting in Senegal’s snap legislative elections called by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye began on Sunday as people came out early to the polling stations. Faye’s Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) ruling party is aiming for a clear majority to see through their ambitious reform agenda.

After his election victory in March, Faye faced stiff resistance from the opposition, Benno Bokk Yakkar-led parliament to his far-reaching economic plans, dimming hopes among the country’s largely youthful population struggling with high inflation and widespread unemployment.

Faye dissolved the chamber in September, six months after he was elected under the opposition platform and called snap elections as soon as the constitution allowed him to do so. The country’s roughly 7.3 million registered voters will elect 165 MPs for five-year terms.

Days leading up to the elections, Ambassador Francis Alex Tsegah, Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) EOM and Ambassador Aristide Calixte Mbari, Head of the African Union (AU) EOM, paid courtesy calls on the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Directorate General of Elections (DGE) and the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).

The visits were organised to find out about the conditions for organising the elections and the preparations for deploying observers throughout Senegal, and to reaffirm the commitment of the two organisations to support and accompany Senegal and all their Member States in the consolidation of democracy through the organisation of peaceful, credible and transparent elections, the results of which will be accepted by all.

Analysts say Senegalese voters have historically confirmed their presidential choice during parliamentary elections, and the ruling PASTEF party is the favourite to win.

The election campaign, which began Oct. 27 and ended Nov. 15, had Forty-one parties, coalitions and political groups participating in the election.

Faye has asked voters to give his PASTEF party a mandate to push through its sweeping economic, political and social reforms. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Faye’s political mentor, heads PASTEF’s coalition list for the legislative elections.

Among the top contenders running for legislative seats on the platform of the opposition coalitions are Dakar’s Mayor Barthelemy Dias and former Prime Minister and former presidential candidate Amadou Ba. Ba leads the Jamm Ak Njarin coalition while Dias is leading the Samm Sa Kaddu coalition.

Former presidents Macky Sall and Abdoulaye Wade have formed a rival coalition and pose a big challenge despite defections from their camp. Sall is leading the Takku Wallu Senegal coalition for the legislative elections.

The opposition’s campaign has been mostly driven on claims that there has not been any change in management of the country since Faye assumed power, in relation to the price of essential commodities and youth employment.

In a letter to supporters, Sall painted a “gloomy picture” of the country’s situation, months after his departure as head of state, after 12 years as president from 2012 – 2024. He added that he could not sit back when things were going astray.

Several political analysts say PASTEF is likely to secure a majority as it rallies the youth. This looks likely as Faye appears to still maintain his large support base with which he won in the March presidential election.

They see the election as a confidence vote for Ousmane Sonko and Faye, as many believe their efforts have been truly stifled by interference from the opposition in the legislature.

Some commentators even believe that the elections would tilt so much in favour of PASTEF that many opposition leaders could disappear from the political scene after the elections because they lack the political and strategic vision necessary to confront Faye’s regime.

There are, however, some contrary opinions on how the elections would reduce Faye’s political weight, especially the fact that Sonko did not go to the legislative elections under the banner of Faye, an indication that the political space of power in the aftermath of the elections will tilt toward Sonko.

This was predicted by many observers of the country’s political space immediately after the presidential elections. It is widely recognised that Faye rode on Sonko’s popularity to become president, and Sonko’s endorsement, they say, has been the main driving force for Faye’s political strength. The belief is that Sonko would be working on reviving his ambitions for the presidency by gradually rebuilding his political structure.

If PASTEF wins the legislative elections Faye will no longer have any political space; instead Sonko will be the dominant figure and seen as kingmaker, they say.

In spite of these opinions, reliable projections of the new parliament, and how it would redefine Senegal’s political space, would become clearer from Monday, November 18.