Published on : 31/05/2022 – 14:50
In Senegal, the Ministry of the Interior has validated 8 national lists of candidates but declares “inadmissible” the list of holders of the main opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi and the list of substitutes of the majority coalition Benno Bokk Yakaar .
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
For the legislative elections of July 31, there will be deputies elected by majority vote in the departments, and others -53 in total- elected by proportional representation, on national lists. It is these lists that are concerned by the decree of the Ministry of the Interior.
According to the ministry, the list of holders of the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi is “incomplete” because the coalition had twice invested the same person both as incumbent and as an alternate. According to Ousmane Sonko, this is a careless error.
According to this decree, the headliners of Yewwi Askan Wi as Ousmane Sonko at the top of the list, Cheikh Tidiane Youm of the PUR party and personalities like Malick Gakou or Déthié Fall cannot participate in the election, and will have to be replaced by alternates.
Regarding the coalition of the majority Benno Bokk Yakaar, it is the opposite: the holders of the national list led by Aminata Touré are validated, but not the alternates. The reason invoked is non-respect of parity.
A ” unacceptable provocation »
It is a blow for the opposition of Yewwi Askan Wi. She denounces a forfeiture “, and ” bias ” and an “ unacceptable provocation in order, according to her, to eliminate her candidates from the race. She promises a response energetic and has already called for a demonstration on Friday in Dakar.
So are we heading towards legislative elections without the main opponents? Yewwi Askan Wi like Benno Bokk Yakaar can now seize the Constitutional Council. It is therefore a new politico-legal battle which is announced.
