The Party of African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) is trying by all means to repeat the coup of the presidential election. Ousmane Sonko and his comrades want to have an overwhelming victory on the evening of November 17, 2024. But a big challenge awaits the chief patriot. The ruling party is losing significant elements of its electorate. The absolute majority wanted by Diomaye and Sonko is compromised.
Ousmane Sonko invites the Senegalese to give him an “overwhelming” majority in the legislative elections of November 2024. This is to be able to carry out his projects to transform the State and judge the former leaders. “We need to have the legislative means, to be able to pass our laws, to control government action, to carry out accountability… This is why we need the Senegalese to give us an overwhelming majority», declared the current Prime Minister in a live on his Facebook page.
But things won’t be as easy as he thinks. Ousmane Sonko is aware of this. This is why he deployed major resources to be able to campaign across the national territory. If this is so, it is because what makes Pastef strong is disappearing. Young people have always supported all of Sonko’s fights. Unfortunately, the change of regime does not work for them. They returned to the path of illegal emigration. And this despite the assurances of the chief patriot.
A diagram published by the DGE (Directorate General of Elections) shows the important place that young people occupy on the electoral map. Which makes them true kingmakers. But a good part of this youth is lost in the oceans. Sunday November 3, a canoe arrived on the Spanish island of El Hierro from Senegal. The convoy had 150 candidates on board, including 9 women. On Saturday, a canoe of 180 people, including 42 women, landed on the same coast. This Wednesday, there were 19 deaths in a canoe of 150 people leaving Bassoul (Fatick).
It must be said that Sonko’s message to Mbour did not get through. “ The future is here with us! If you support us in our project you will not be forced to emigrate. On the contrary, Europeans will rush to come here to Senegal », Ousmane Sonko had promised. Despite all the major resources deployed by the State, young people continue to brave the oceans. For many observers of the political scene, if emigration has resumed it is because the new regime is struggling to make its promises come true after seven (7) months at the head of the country.
Ousmane Sonko thus faces a real problem. If the project leaders desert the country, how will they achieve majority? An equation that the one nicknamed PROS (President Ousmane Sonko) will have to resolve before November 17, 2024. The question of emigration is a real threat for Pastef, the ruling party. Without youth, Pastef will have difficulty having an absolute majority in parliament. But that won’t be the ruling party’s only problem.
Ousmane Sonko and Pastef will have to watch out for some of their allies. Pastef has become the new breeding ground for transhumance. All the members of the old regime are going towards Sonko a few days before the legislative elections. Which is not well seen by the Senegalese. The majority of these people are vomited up by everyone. Moreover, this is one of the reasons why 54% of voters voted for change at all levels. To form a united front with Macky’s former men is to take the risk of offending these voters.
The last thing Pastef needs to do is shed the mantle of violence embodied by some of his supporters. Some loose tongues risk causing a real problem for Sonko’s party. The patriots have their work cut out for them. They will have to perform miracles to achieve their majority.
Aliou Niakaar Ngom for news.sn
