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As Senegal prepares to hold legislative elections on Sunday, November 17, marking a landmark moment in the country’s political life, the ruling PASTEF party is seeking a majority of seats to implement its ambitious electoral programme and bring about the necessary reforms promised to Senegalese.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s September decision to dissolve the current Parliament, formed following the 2022 elections, was significant moment in Senegal’s political history. During that time, the National Assembly was predominantly controlled by the camp of former President Macky Sall, which was an obstacle to the implementation of necessary reforms.
In the upcoming elections, the most important task for Senegalese will be to form a new National Assembly capable of supporting the actions of the new government. For PASTEF, which proposes to carry out a programme of ‘rupture’, it is crucial to obtain a majority of seats in the new parliament.
On the eve of the elections, the opposition is intensifying its criticism of the current government, accusing it of lack of progress over the past seven months. However, it is worth noting that it was this opposition, which dominated the previous parliament, that actively blocked the reforms needed to improve the situation in the country. Realising the threat from PASTEF, opposition forces were beginning to unite into large coalitions to prevent the new authorities from implementing their grandiose plans.
The coalitions were aimed not only at preserving the old order, but also at preventing decisive steps towards the transformation and modernisation of the state. This creates tension in the pre-election environment and exposes the November 17 elections as a political battle for Senegal’s future.
Earlier, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye outlined an ambitious plan to rethink relations between Senegal and France, seeking to make them more equal and protect his country’s interests. His pledge to renegotiate key agreements relating to the economy, fishing, defence and mining underlined his determination to act in the interests of Senegalese. Moreover, the abandonment of the CFA franc and the desire to create a new, independent currency show a deep desire to establish true sovereignty and free Senegal from its colonial legacy.
“This is a lever that you must be able to activate to move more quickly towards endogenous development. This sovereignty, like other sovereignties, cannot be renounced. On the contrary, we’re going to assert it more, because a sovereign country must be totally sovereign. Not half sovereign,” said President Faye.
The support of the ruling PASTEF party in the upcoming elections is becoming critical if the plans of the leader of the Republic are to become a reality. The success of his political programme depends on strong support from citizens, which means that Senegalese must be actively involved in the political life of the country.
Mutual support and active participation in politics can bring about significant change and strengthen national sovereignty.
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