Political Coalition in Senegal Welcomes Vote Delay Reversal
(AWP) - An opposition coalition in Senegal has welcomed a decision by the President of the Republic not to delay the upcoming presidential election, in response to a decision by the Constitutional Council that nullified a previous presidential decree that would have postponed the ballot, which sparked a crisis in the country known as an ‘oasis of democracy’ in Africa.
The Civil Society Platform for Transparency of Elections in Senegal proposed that the election be held on March 3 or 10, 2024.
A platform member, Djibril Ningi, read out its statement during a press conference, urging “political actors, especially the President of the Republic, to rise to the level of challenges.”
Ningi asserted that March 3 or March 10 would be an appropriate date for holding the election, as both dates fall within the timeframe of the expiry of the President’s term.
“By abrogating this decree on one hand, and declaring that this law was in violation of the Constitution on the other, the Constitutional Council, on February 15, 2024, has taken a historic decision that will enhance the dignity and credibility of the institution, and will immensely contribute to restoring Senegal’s image around the world as a model of great democracy, thanks to the stability and strength of its institutions,” he added.
On Friday, Senegalese President Macky Sall announced in a statement that the election would be held “as soon as possible.”
Earlier on Thursday, the Constitutional Council canceled a decree issued by Sall in early February that would have postponed the election that was supposed to have been held later this month.