Voting began on Sunday in Senegal’s snap parliamentary elections, as the country’s new leadership seeks to secure a clear majority to advance their ambitious reform agenda. In the early morning, dozens of voters gathered at a polling station in the capital, Dakar, eager to cast their ballots.
“I hope that the ruling party, Pastef, wins the election to secure a majority and better carry out their mandate,” said Pascal Goudiaby, a 56-year-old voter. He highlighted unemployment as a key issue in the country.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who secured a victory in the March elections, campaigned on promises of economic transformation, social justice, and a crackdown on corruption. His victory raised hopes among Senegal’s largely youthful population, which faces high inflation and widespread unemployment.
However, Faye’s first few months in office were marked by challenges due to an opposition-dominated parliament.
In response, Faye dissolved the legislative chamber in September and called for snap elections as soon as the constitution allowed. The 7.3 million registered voters are tasked with electing 165 members of parliament to serve five-year terms.
Analysts suggest that Senegalese voters have traditionally supported their presidential choice in parliamentary elections, making the ruling Pastef party the frontrunner in this race. Despite some heated political rhetoric, violence has been sporadic in the lead-up to the vote.
Polling stations are set to close at 6:00 PM local time (1800 GMT), with reliable projections of the new parliament expected to be available by Monday.
