Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Abdoulaye Diallo
Published on 2024-02-26 23:59:04
Diamniadio, Feb 26 (APS) – The President of the Republic declared on Monday, in Diamniadio (west), that he intends to ask the Constitutional Council to designate his successor if the participants in the national dialogue do not reach a consensus on the date of the presidential election.
“If we reach a consensus for the national interest, I will accept this decision […] Otherwise, I will ask the Constitutional Council to designate my successor for the handover of power on April 2,” said Macky Sall at the end of the first day of this consultation.
“The most important thing at the moment is to set the date of the presidential election,” he emphasized.
Last Thursday, Macky Sall announced that he would leave the presidency of the Republic at the end of his term on April 2.
Some participants, including the representative of the Catholic Church, Philippe Tine, proposed holding the presidential election before April 2.
Others, including candidates whose candidacies were rejected by the Constitutional Council, demanded a restart of the electoral process and possibly the organization of the election beyond the end of the current President’s term.
Speaking at the beginning of the dialogue, Macky Sall expressed that his “dearest wish” was to hold the election “before the next rainy season.”
Government members, representatives of political parties, local authorities, public administration, civil society organizations, and trade unions are taking part in the two-day dialogue.
According to Macky Sall, one of the objectives of this consultation is to reach a consensus on the date of the presidential election.
He organized the dialogue after interrupting the process that was supposed to lead to the election on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
By canceling the decree calling voters to the polls on that date, Macky Sall opened the way to an unprecedented controversy regarding the presidential election in Senegal.
The Constitutional Council, in addition to annulling a law passed by the National Assembly to postpone the election to December 15, asked the Head of State to organize the election as soon as possible.
Sixteen of the 19 candidates whose applications were deemed admissible by the Constitutional Council refused to participate in the national dialogue.
Some civil society organizations also abstained from participating.
ABD/ESF/AKS
Read the original article(French) on Senegalese Press Agency
