In Senegal, the technical commissions of the national dialogue initiated by President Macky Sall to find a way out of the crisis have just ended in Diamniadio, around thirty kilometers from Dakar. Among the issues examined by all was the new date of the presidential elections, the postponement of which was declared invalid by the Constitutional Council. The main recommendation is a first round of presidential elections for June 2nd.
Published on: February 27, 2024 – 8:02 p.m
2 minutes
With our special correspondent in Diamniadio, Thea Ollivier
The main expected proposal was June 2 for the first round of presidential elections. Commission members told RFI that this date allows for a vote before winter, that is, before the rainy season, which begins in July. But it also allows Ramadan, which begins in about ten days, and other religious festivals to pass.
The commission also proposed maintaining the list of 19 candidates confirmed by the Constitutional Council, with the possibility of re-examining the files of rejected or so-called expropriated candidates with a view to possibly including them on the list. A measure that would allow Karim Wade to run. The candidacy of opponent Ousmane Sonko remains pending, provided he is released thanks to the draft Amnesty law This was announced by the President of the Republic, Macky Sall, on Monday. Finally, the final proposal of the dialogue is to allow Macky Sall to ensure the transition at the head of the State after the end of his mandate on April 2 until the election of his successor.
These proposals will be submitted to the head of state, who still needs to issue a presidential decree to convene the electoral body. Macky Sall promised to refer the matter to the Constitutional Council to confirm this decision. The Seven Wise Men must also consider proposals to open the list to new candidates and to extend the current president's term at the helm of the country until his successor is elected.
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