Senegal heads to polls as new leaders eye parliamentary win

Senegal yesterday voted in parliamentary elections, with the new leaders aiming for a resounding majority to see through the promise of ambitious reform that swept them to power eight months ago.President Bassirou Diomaye Faye secured victory in March pledging economic transformation, social justice and a fight against corruption — raising hopes among a largely youthful population facing high inflation and widespread unemployment.But an opposition-led parliament hampered the government’s first months in power, leading Faye to dissolve the chamber in September and call snap elections as soon as the constitution allowed him to do so."I hope that (the ruling party) Pastef will win the elections to gain a majority so that they can better carry out their mandate,” said 56-year-old voter Pascal Goudiaby in the capital Dakar."The priority is unemployment, young people are facing so much unemployment,” he added.Faye appointed his firebrand mentor Ousmane Sonko as prime minister, after Sonko’s own bid to run for president was blocked following a three-year deadly standoff with the former authorities.The pair promised a leftist pan-African agenda — vowing to diversify political and economic partnerships, review hydrocarbon and fishing contracts and re-establish Senegal’s sovereignty, which they claimed had been sold abroad.Mademba Ndiaye, a 20-year-old student, was voting for the first time in Dakar."It’s one of the only ways we can really have an impact on society, and I think that if we don’t vote, we couldn’t really complain about what happens in society afterwards,” he said.The west African country’s roughly 7.3mn registered voters will elect 165 MPs for five-year terms.Analysts say Senegalese voters have historically confirmed their presidential choice during parliamentary elections, and the Pastef party is the favourite to win."I think that whoever you gave your confidence to in the presidential election, you need to renew your confidence in him so that he can achieve what he started,” said 56-year-old voter Toure Aby."We want life to be less expensive for the Senegalese”, she added. "Everything’s expensive: water, electricity, food”.Voters are continuing a long democratic tradition in Senegal, widely seen as a stable outlier in a coup-plagued region.President Faye praised Senegalese democracy and called for a peaceful vote as he cast his ballot in his family’s village of Ndiaganiao. There will always be winners and losers, but "in the end, it is the people of Senegal who will win”, he told journalists in a video aired by public broadcaster RTS.Prime Minister Sonko also urged calm as he voted in the southern city of Ziguinchor."Democracy is expressed in peace and stability, and I believe that in a democracy there is no room for violence,” he said.Sonko spent three weeks on the campaign trail promising projects and regional investment. Reminiscent of his years as a fiery opposition leader, he had called for vengeance after attacks against his supporters, but later urged restraint.Despite the heated tone, clashes were sporadic in the run-up to the vote.Though some agreements have been reached between coalitions, the opposition remains fragmented.Former president Macky Sall is leading an opposition grouping from abroad.He left power in April after triggering one of the worst crises in decades with a last-minute postponement of the presidential election.Former prime minister and presidential runner-up Amadou Ba and Dakar mayor Barthelemy Dias are also heading coalitions.The opposition has accused the new government of inaction, amateurism and a desire to settle scores with the previous administration. Unemployment stands at more than 20% and scores continue to risk their lives every month attempting to reach Europe by boat.The government said an audit of public finances revealed a wider budget deficit than previously announced.Moody’s downgraded Senegal’s credit rating and placed the country under observation.Polling stations close at 6:00pm (1800 GMT). Reliable projections of the new parliament’s makeup could be available from today morning.