Senegalese parliamentary election, 2007
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal
on 3 June 2007. They had originally been planned to be held together with the presidential election
on 25 February 2007, but were postponed. 14 parties or coalitions participated in the election, in which the composition of the National Assembly
, with 150 seats, was decided; however, the election was marked by a major opposition boycott
. The ruling Sopi Coalition
won 131 seats, including all 90 of the seats determined by majority voting.
On 2 April, 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party
and the Rewmi party of Idrissa Seck
, who placed second in the presidential election, announced they would boycott the election, alleging that the electoral roll was doctored. They wanted the electoral roll to be revised and for a new, independent electoral commission to be created. They had demanded that the Interior Minister, Ousmane Ngom
, be dismissed; they also said that the constituencies were drawn to the advantage of the Democratic Party
of President Abdoulaye Wade
, and demanded that they be redrawn. Wade refused to talk to them and said that they could boycott if they wished. On 5 April, it was announced that the coalition And Defarat Sénégal, including And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism
(AJ-PADS), would contest the election, with a spokesman saying that boycotts were not politically effective. On 6 April, several of the main parties participating in the boycott announced that they were withdrawing their guarantees of 15 million CFA franc
s in order to invalidate their candidacies, citing the unwillingness of Wade to engage in dialogue. Prior to the deadline at midnight on the same day, 15 parties or coalitions filed candidate lists with the Interior Ministry, which had three days to determine the validity of the lists. Interior Minister Ngom pointed to the participation of 15 lists as evidence for the health of Senegalese democracy; others, however, have considered the situation to be a serious setback for democracy. 14 of the lists were approved and one, an independent list, was rejected.
In late April, the boycotting parties began a tour intended to explain the boycott throughout the country.
In late March, the National Assembly passed a law requiring gender parity in national candidate lists; this move was backed by Wade. However, in early April it was reported that, due to an appeal against the law filed by the Socialist Party, the application of the law was suspended and it was not in effect for the June election.
According to an electoral commission official in May, over 4,000 candidates were standing for the 150 National Assembly seats. Previously the Assembly was composed of 120 seats. 90 of the seats in the new Assembly were to be decided through majority votes and 60 were to be decided through proportional representation. Campaigning for the election began on 13 May and ran until midnight on 1 June. Members of the security forces voted a week early, on May 26 and May 27. Participation among the security forces was placed at 27.23%, and the boycotting parties (grouped into a coalition called the Siggil Sénégal Front) said that this indicated that the security forces observed the boycott.
Initial reports regarding the June 3 election described voter turnout as low, and it was estimated that turnout was no higher than 30-35%. Ngom and Prime Minister Macky Sall
said that it was premature to say that turnout was low while voting was ongoing; Sall also argued that in any country, turnout in parliamentary elections is lower than in presidential elections. In the February 2007 presidential election, turnout had been 70%; in the 2001 parliamentary election
it was 67.4%. After voting, Wade expressed his hope for a large turnout but noted that voting is voluntary in Senegal. The Siggil Sénégal Front described turnout as very low and said that its boycott had been largely observed by the people. Ngom said that the next National Assembly would be legitimate regardless of the turnout rate. Former president Abdou Diouf
voted in the election in Paris
, despite the participation of the Socialist Party, which he led while he was president, in the boycott.
An interior ministry estimate on June 4 placed turnout at about 38%. Sall said that the Sopi Coalition won all 35 electoral districts and all of the 90 seats determined by majority voting. On the same day, the Siggil Sénégal Front demanded that Wade cancel the election and engage in dialogue with the opposition.
Provisional results were released on June 7 showed the Sopi Coalition with a total of 131 seats, taking all 90 of the seats determined by majority voting along with another 41 seats determined by proportional representation. Voter turnout was placed at 34.75%. Final results from the Constitutional Council on June 14 confirmed Sopi's victory with 131 seats.
On June 19, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, who is considered a technocrat and is not a member of the PDS, was appointed Prime Minister by Wade, replacing Sall, and a new government, largely similar to the old government and not including the opposition, was named on the same day.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
on 3 June 2007. They had originally been planned to be held together with the presidential election
Senegalese presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held in Senegal on 25 February 2007. The incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, who was first elected in 2000, won the election in the first round with almost 56% of the vote.-Date of the election:...
on 25 February 2007, but were postponed. 14 parties or coalitions participated in the election, in which the composition of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Senegal
The National Assembly of Senegal is the lower house of Senegal's parliament.-The current National Assembly:The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 29 April 2001, has a total of 150 elected members who serve five-year terms. The electoral system is a mixed member...
, with 150 seats, was decided; however, the election was marked by a major opposition boycott
Election boycott
An election boycott is the boycotting of an election by a group of voters, each of whom abstains from voting.Boycotting may be used as a form of political protest where voters feel that electoral fraud is likely, or that the electoral system is biased against its candidates, or that the polity...
. The ruling Sopi Coalition
Sopi Coalition
The Sopi Coalition is the governing political alliance in Senegal. The alliance is composed of the Senegalese Democratic Party and smaller parties, and it supports President Abdoulaye Wade, who is also the Secretary-General of the PDS.In the April 2001 parliamentary election, the Sopi Coalition...
won 131 seats, including all 90 of the seats determined by majority voting.
On 2 April, 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party
Socialist Party of Senegal
The Socialist Party of Senegal is a political party in Senegal. It was the ruling party in Senegal from independence in 1960 until 2000. Ousmane Tanor Dieng has been the First Secretary of the party since 1996...
and the Rewmi party of Idrissa Seck
Idrissa Seck
Idrissa Seck is a Senegalese politician who was Prime Minister of Senegal from November 2002 to April 2004. He was a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party and was considered a protégé of President Abdoulaye Wade, but he subsequently went into opposition and was a candidate in the...
, who placed second in the presidential election, announced they would boycott the election, alleging that the electoral roll was doctored. They wanted the electoral roll to be revised and for a new, independent electoral commission to be created. They had demanded that the Interior Minister, Ousmane Ngom
Ousmane Ngom
Ousmane Alioune Ngom is a Senegalese politician, serving in the government of Senegal as Minister of State for the Interior since September 2010. As a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party , Ngom served as a minister in national unity governments from 1991 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1998...
, be dismissed; they also said that the constituencies were drawn to the advantage of the Democratic Party
Senegalese Democratic Party
The Senegalese Democratic Party is a political party in Senegal. The party considers itself a liberal party and is a member of the Liberal International. Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's president, is the party's leader...
of President Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974...
, and demanded that they be redrawn. Wade refused to talk to them and said that they could boycott if they wished. On 5 April, it was announced that the coalition And Defarat Sénégal, including And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism
And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism
The And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism is a socialist political party in Senegal led by Landing Savané....
(AJ-PADS), would contest the election, with a spokesman saying that boycotts were not politically effective. On 6 April, several of the main parties participating in the boycott announced that they were withdrawing their guarantees of 15 million CFA franc
CFA franc
The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc...
s in order to invalidate their candidacies, citing the unwillingness of Wade to engage in dialogue. Prior to the deadline at midnight on the same day, 15 parties or coalitions filed candidate lists with the Interior Ministry, which had three days to determine the validity of the lists. Interior Minister Ngom pointed to the participation of 15 lists as evidence for the health of Senegalese democracy; others, however, have considered the situation to be a serious setback for democracy. 14 of the lists were approved and one, an independent list, was rejected.
In late April, the boycotting parties began a tour intended to explain the boycott throughout the country.
In late March, the National Assembly passed a law requiring gender parity in national candidate lists; this move was backed by Wade. However, in early April it was reported that, due to an appeal against the law filed by the Socialist Party, the application of the law was suspended and it was not in effect for the June election.
According to an electoral commission official in May, over 4,000 candidates were standing for the 150 National Assembly seats. Previously the Assembly was composed of 120 seats. 90 of the seats in the new Assembly were to be decided through majority votes and 60 were to be decided through proportional representation. Campaigning for the election began on 13 May and ran until midnight on 1 June. Members of the security forces voted a week early, on May 26 and May 27. Participation among the security forces was placed at 27.23%, and the boycotting parties (grouped into a coalition called the Siggil Sénégal Front) said that this indicated that the security forces observed the boycott.
Initial reports regarding the June 3 election described voter turnout as low, and it was estimated that turnout was no higher than 30-35%. Ngom and Prime Minister Macky Sall
Macky Sall
Macky Sall is a Senegalese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Senegal from April 2004 to June 2007 and was President of the National Assembly of Senegal from June 2007 to November 2008. He was the Mayor of Fatick from 2002 to 2008 and has held that post again since April 2009.Sall was a...
said that it was premature to say that turnout was low while voting was ongoing; Sall also argued that in any country, turnout in parliamentary elections is lower than in presidential elections. In the February 2007 presidential election, turnout had been 70%; in the 2001 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 2001
An election for the National Assembly of Senegal was held on 29 April 2001. The election was held under the new constitution approved by referendum earlier in the year...
it was 67.4%. After voting, Wade expressed his hope for a large turnout but noted that voting is voluntary in Senegal. The Siggil Sénégal Front described turnout as very low and said that its boycott had been largely observed by the people. Ngom said that the next National Assembly would be legitimate regardless of the turnout rate. Former president Abdou Diouf
Abdou Diouf
Abdou Diouf was the second President of Senegal, serving from 1981 to 2000. Diouf is notable both for coming to power by peaceful succession, and leaving willingly after losing the 2000 presidential election to Abdoulaye Wade...
voted in the election in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, despite the participation of the Socialist Party, which he led while he was president, in the boycott.
An interior ministry estimate on June 4 placed turnout at about 38%. Sall said that the Sopi Coalition won all 35 electoral districts and all of the 90 seats determined by majority voting. On the same day, the Siggil Sénégal Front demanded that Wade cancel the election and engage in dialogue with the opposition.
Provisional results were released on June 7 showed the Sopi Coalition with a total of 131 seats, taking all 90 of the seats determined by majority voting along with another 41 seats determined by proportional representation. Voter turnout was placed at 34.75%. Final results from the Constitutional Council on June 14 confirmed Sopi's victory with 131 seats.
On June 19, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, who is considered a technocrat and is not a member of the PDS, was appointed Prime Minister by Wade, replacing Sall, and a new government, largely similar to the old government and not including the opposition, was named on the same day.