Senegal's president dissolves parliament to call a snap legislative election
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved parliament Thursday, just six months after he was elected president and said new legislative elections would be held on Nov. 17. Analysts say that Faye’s popularity, especially among young voters, should allow his political party to secure a parliamentary majority.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament on Thursday, paving the way for a snap legislative election six months after he was voted in on an anti-establishment platform.
The new election has to take place within the next 90 days, according to the country’s constitution. Analysts say that Faye’s political party, PASTEF, has a high chance of securing a majority, given his popularity and his victory margin in the presidential election.
The Benno Bokk Yaakar opposition platform led by former President Macky Sall condemned the move. They said Faye had convened a legislative session under false pretenses in order to announce the dissolution and accused him of “perjury.”
Faye, 44, won the vote in April to become Africa’s youngest elected leader, less than two weeks after he was released from prison.
But six months later, these pledges have yet to materialise.
(AP)
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