Legislative in Senegal: Abdoulaye Wade, 96, head of Wallu's list and conspicuous absentee
Audio 01:21
Former Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade in Pikine, Senegal, February 7, 2019. AFP - SEYLLOU
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Legislative elections take place on July 31 in Senegal.
Among the eight lists in competition: Wallu Senegal, which has concluded an alliance with the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition of Ousmane Sonko and Khalifa Sall at the level of the departments.
The head of the national Wallu list is none other than former President Abdoulaye Wade, 96, and for the time being largely absent from the debates.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
He lives in France and has not spoken publicly since the start of the campaign.
But Abdoulaye Wade is following the events closely, assures Mamadou Lamine Diallo, leader of the “Tekki” movement and member of Wallu Senegal.
“
He remains very active in the discussions that we have at the level of Wallu Senegal, when it was necessary to initiate discussions with
Yewwi Askan Wi,
Abdoulaye Wade was there and we were discussing with him,
affirms Mamadou Lamine Diallo.
I myself met him about ten days ago in Paris, and in great shape, he even often discusses specific questions
.
»
Why this choice of the former head of state as head of the list?
"
The Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) is the driving force behind the coalition, Abdoulaye Wade is the national secretary general of the party, so it was logical,
" explains the deputy.
►Also read: Legislative in Senegal: the comeback of Aminata Touré, head of the national list of the majority
"
They had no one else to invest
", mocks a political journalist, "
the PDS no longer has any leaders, and the name of the ex-president remains a seller, especially with the elders
", continues our interlocutor.
Will Abdoulaye Wade return to Senegal before the elections?
This is not excluded, assures Mamadou Lamine Diallo
"
It's very likely, I think he himself wants to come, at some point the question was on the table, and then there was the resurgence of Covid-19... Well there were a few hesitation, I think the issue is still on the table.
»
But if Abdoulaye Wade is elected, he will not sit in the Assembly, says the head of Wallu Senegal, as in the last legislative elections of 2017.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Senegal
Abdoulaye Wade
Coronavirus