For the moment we only have strong trends but everything suggests that PASTEF is heading towards a large victory and an absolute majority. Did you expect such a gap?
You are wise to remember that we do not yet have the official results but the main opposition candidates have recognized PASTEF’s victory. We must salute this republican posture. During the electoral campaign, we unfortunately experienced sequences marked by violence and inappropriate comments. It is happy to see that the populations still demonstrate maturity and voted in calm and serenity.
If trends continue, PASTEF should have a comfortable majority. It is a tradition in Senegal. When a new president is elected, the populations give him the majority to carry out his program. It is therefore not a surprise to see current trends and a future big victory for PASTEF. This scenario was even expected if we looked at the results of the presidential election and the vote differences. The first results indicate PASTEF’s control over the regions of Dakar, Thiès and Diourbel, which are the most important bastions in terms of votes. The results announced in Mbacké are edifying and part of the dynamic of the presidential election of March 24, 2024.
“Many in the opposition opted for “group shots” on Ousmane Sonko and the last week was ultimately marked by acts of violence and unfortunate declarations from both sides”
What do you think explains this large victory for PASTEF: the strength and aura of Ousmane Sonko or the disavowal of an opposition made up of political figures who somewhat embody the old guard?
There’s probably a bit of all that. But, above all, there is this desire to grant the new President of the Republic a majority to roll out his program and initiate the reforms and changes promised during the campaign. The President of the Republic Faye and the Prime Minister launched the new public policy framework “Senegal 2050: National Transformation Agenda”. Ousmane Sonko campaigned on the basis of this document in the different zones of Senegal, exposing what the government planned in each pole in many areas.
The agenda is broken down into execution phases and this undoubtedly caught the attention of voters. It seems to me that the opposition had to create the outlines of a real substantive debate on this new program which replaces the Emerging Senegal Plan. We have not really had the opportunity to have substantive debates and to see the opposition’s grievances with respect to this new program. What does she think of the economic orientations and vision? What does she think of the 4 growth engines which must be the pillar of this so-called “competitive” economy announced by PASTEF?
“A certain political class which has been present for 30 years is in the process of fading away in favor of a new one”
Many opted for “group shots” on Ousmane Sonko and the last week was ultimately marked by acts of violence and unfortunate statements from both sides. If the trends are confirmed in the coming hours of a large victory for PASTEF, there is also this signal which is launched to have a debate on the concerns of the Senegalese, namely the economy, purchasing power, education, health or even the crucial question of youth employment. It is certain that it is difficult to hold substantive debates with 41 heads of list. The absence of a sponsorship system explains this plethora of applications. In this election, we spoke of a “generational bloc”, it seems to me that this new generation must take up these questions, be in the proposal and bring contradiction to the government on these essential subjects. Obviously, we are going to have a new political configuration already initiated by the results of the presidential election. A certain political class that has been present for 30 years is in the process of disappearing in favor of a new one. It will be interesting to know the final score of the coalition of former President Macky Sall and that of former Prime Minister Amadou Ba.
“The choice of former President Macky Sall to be head of the list is very surprising”
President Macky Sall, even if he did not come to campaign, invested in this election by being head of the list of the Takku Wallu Senegal coalition. After this setback, is his political future compromised?
The choice of former President Macky Sall to be head of the list is very surprising. He announced that he was going to devote himself to an international career and to issues related to climate change. He returned after six months to lead his coalition. This raises a more general question about the functioning of our political parties, the founder is always “condemned” to play the leading roles whatever happens. This party led Senegal for 12 years and after the defeat on March 24, 2024, we have President Sall returning to lead the coalition.
This raises the question of the renewal of bodies, leaders and more generally of internal democracy. After the defeat, former ministers and agency directors jumped ship. Some joined Amadou Bâ in his political movement. More vocal, certain former figures of the APR and the former presidential coalition have decided to support PASTEF, which some have described as “transhumance”. Moreover, PASTEF has always criticized this posture and there have been legitimate questions regarding this all-out support, especially coming from former figures of the APR.
Coming back to Macky Sall who led the Takku Wallu campaign from his residence in Morocco, we will have to see the number of seats he obtained in this election. He seems to retain certain strongholds in the north of the country but it also seems that he has experienced serious setbacks in his stronghold of Fatick according to the first results. All this will have consequences for his political future. If the number of seats obtained is very low, we will have to see how the party will recover from this setback. Some imagine Macky Sall as a candidate for the 2029 presidential election, he will be 67 years old. The first element of attention will be the result of his coalition in this legislative election.
“President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko with all the hopes raised have only one alternative: take charge of the concerns of the Senegalese and make the appropriate changes”
PASTEF now has free rein after this resounding victory which comes after the large victory of Diomaye Faye in March. However, during the first months of power, we felt some hiccups illustrated in particular by the Samba Ndiaye affair. Can we say that for this party the real challenge lies in terms of internal cohesion and understanding between the Prime Minister and the President?
You know what interests the Senegalese and this is undoubtedly one of the lessons of this election, these are the ruptures and changes announced in governance, in the economy, in justice and even in purchasing power. If the results of a large victory are confirmed for PASTEF, they will now have free rein to implement the “famous project”. I was going to say that the serious things begin with this future majority in the Assembly. The Senegalese gave the executive a majority to roll out the program. In a way, President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko with all the hope raised have only one alternative to take care of the concerns of the Senegalese and make the appropriate changes. They have often indicated that the project of transforming the country that they carry goes beyond themselves. With this large majority emerging in the Assembly, it’s time to work, to take action and to make the changes announced.
After this success which undeniably bears the mark of Ousmane Sonko, what role do you see him playing: the Prime Minister or the Assembly?
The two institutions do not have the same function. For several months, Ousmane Sonko has been Prime Minister, he coordinates government action. He launched the new framework for public policies, while remaining at the prime minister’s office, he will be the project manager of this program and the different variations. He will be able to drive the dynamics of reforms and ensure that the results are there in a context of high expectations. If he were to be President of the National Assembly, his main function would be to monitor government action. All scenarios are possible but his posture in recent months may suggest that he will remain as Prime Minister and continue to lead the government and the administration to ensure the proper execution of the presidential program. You know five years which is the duration of the presidential mandate, it passes quickly and we need concrete results in the coming years in a country where everything seems to be urgent.
Interview conducted by Adama NDIAYE
