Senegal: el malick ndiaye demands local elections, rejects postponement
The ongoing discourse surrounding the timing of upcoming local elections in Sénégal has intensified with a decisive declaration from El Malick Ndiaye. His firm stance follows earlier calls by Ousmane Sonko, who had previously urged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to officially determine the election date.
During a Pastef party tour for member card sales in Linguère, where he hosted Ousmane Sonko, the prominent deputy asserted that any consideration of postponing these crucial elections is entirely unacceptable.
El Malick Ndiaye explicitly connected the remarkable turnout observed during Pastef’s member card drive to the broader discussions about the electoral calendar. He highlighted the significant public engagement as a clear indicator of the nation’s readiness for the polls.
“Our efforts in selling member cards are genuinely energizing the country, in a positive way. Across the nation, people are eager to acquire Pastef membership cards. This widespread enthusiasm could very well influence the schedule of the forthcoming elections,” he stated.
The former National Assembly president remained resolute regarding the absolute necessity of holding the vote as planned. “These elections, however, are beyond postponement. ‘Beug beuré, bagn beuré’ – a confrontation will happen, whether they desire it or not,” he emphatically warned.
This powerful statement from El Malick Ndiaye emerged just hours after Ousmane Sonko’s equally forceful address in Louga. There, the Pastef leader had similarly appealed to the head of state, urging him to issue a presidential decree to establish the official date for the upcoming local elections, emphasizing that this action falls squarely within presidential powers.
“Issuing a decree to remove individuals like Fadilou Keïta, Waly Diouf Bodiang, and others falls within his authority; no one disputes that. In the same vein, he must issue a decree to set the election date. These are all straightforward decrees,” Sonko had declared, underscoring the simplicity of the administrative act.
These two recent interventions significantly amplify the political pressure surrounding Sénégal’s electoral timeline. The persistent uncertainty regarding the date of the next local elections continues to be a central point of contention among the Senegalese political class, making it a critical aspect of current Sahel affairs.
During a Pastef party tour for member card sales in Linguère, where he hosted Ousmane Sonko, the prominent deputy asserted that any consideration of postponing these crucial elections is entirely unacceptable.
“No one can push them back”
El Malick Ndiaye explicitly connected the remarkable turnout observed during Pastef’s member card drive to the broader discussions about the electoral calendar. He highlighted the significant public engagement as a clear indicator of the nation’s readiness for the polls.
“Our efforts in selling member cards are genuinely energizing the country, in a positive way. Across the nation, people are eager to acquire Pastef membership cards. This widespread enthusiasm could very well influence the schedule of the forthcoming elections,” he stated.
The former National Assembly president remained resolute regarding the absolute necessity of holding the vote as planned. “These elections, however, are beyond postponement. ‘Beug beuré, bagn beuré’ – a confrontation will happen, whether they desire it or not,” he emphatically warned.
Following Sonko’s strong message
This powerful statement from El Malick Ndiaye emerged just hours after Ousmane Sonko’s equally forceful address in Louga. There, the Pastef leader had similarly appealed to the head of state, urging him to issue a presidential decree to establish the official date for the upcoming local elections, emphasizing that this action falls squarely within presidential powers.
“Issuing a decree to remove individuals like Fadilou Keïta, Waly Diouf Bodiang, and others falls within his authority; no one disputes that. In the same vein, he must issue a decree to set the election date. These are all straightforward decrees,” Sonko had declared, underscoring the simplicity of the administrative act.
These two recent interventions significantly amplify the political pressure surrounding Sénégal’s electoral timeline. The persistent uncertainty regarding the date of the next local elections continues to be a central point of contention among the Senegalese political class, making it a critical aspect of current Sahel affairs.