While several opposition coalitions dream of cohabitation, the Pastef party took the risk of going alone to the early legislative elections next Sunday, seven months after coming to power, with a legislative contract based on ” Systemic transformation project » proposed to the Senegalese.
The party “African Patriots of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity” (Pastef), decided to go solo in the election, aiming for a parliamentary majority. Last September, its president, current Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, informed his allies in the Diomaye President coalition that his party, founded ten years ago, would stand alone in the early legislative election on November 17. This decision surprised more than one within the coalition which brought to power President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, appointed by Sonko, a charismatic and very popular leader on the Senegalese political scene.
The bet is described as risky by several analysts and observers, since most of the presidential and legislative elections won in recent years have been won under the banner of party coalitions. However, Pastef and its head of the list say they are confident in their political strength. Supported by several leaders of the old regime, particularly in rural areas, they are convinced of their ability to obtain a majority next Sunday to initiate the national transformation agenda of Vision Senegal 2050, the new framework for public policies presented mid -october.
Ousmane Sonko focused his campaign, which ends this Friday, on this reference. He traveled practically the entire country to explain his vision of inclusive development of Senegal, articulated around eight territorial poles (Dakar, Thiès, Center, South, South-East, North-East, North, Diourbel-Louga) at the place of the fourteen current administrative regions. This ambitious program, the first phase of which extends until 2029, requires financing of more than 18,000 billion CFA francs. It aims to develop a strong private sector, capable of transforming the natural resources of each locality and creating millions of jobs.
One vote, a thousand issues!
Wednesday, during a meeting in the Dakar suburbs, the leader of Pastef explained that the Pôle de Dakar would be transformed into a “ cultural, scientific and tourist hub » to rebalance the region’s economic share, today estimated at 46% of national wealth, to 29%. “ Dakar represents only 0.05% of the national territory “, he stressed.
The Thiès pole will focus on mining and agro-industry, while the South-East pole will become a diversified economic area. As for the Diourbel-Louga cluster, it aims to become a major industrial and urban center, while promoting its religious heritage. Finally, the North will play a key role in the country’s food sovereignty, by developing a competitive agro-industrial sector, explained Ousmane Sonko, accompanied by his supporters from whom he asks for a ” overwhelming majority » in parliament to implement the program that brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the presidency.
« Last March, you chose us with 54% of the votes in the first round of the presidential election. We must now give ourselves an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly on November 17. Here you have the opportunity to strengthen the credibility of Senegal both internationally and in the country”he told his supporters during a fundraising meeting organized in the packed Dakar Arena basketball hall, in Diamniadio.
Faced with him, the opposition agreed to coordinate its forces in certain constituencies despite the plurality of lists proposed. Ousmane Sonko will notably have to face ex-president Macky Sall, the mayor of Dakar Barthélémy Dias and former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who all lead lists, but have agreed, despite their disagreements, to support the opposition list the strongest in each locality.
For Ousmane Sonko, the issue goes beyond the legislative elections. It is also a question of removing the old political class, which he accuses of having slowed down the development of Senegal since 1960. In the event of a majority in parliament, Pastef, who plans to obtain no less than 150 deputies out of the 165 seats of the National Assembly, promises to tackle from the first months of the fifteenth legislature the repeal of the amnesty law relating to political violence having caused the death of more than 80 people between 2021 and 2024. also commits to prosecuting dignitaries of the former regime accused of embezzlement of public funds by setting up the High Court of Justice.
ODL/SF/te/APA
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