Senegal: deputies return to parliament in chaos

Senegalese deputies take part in the inaugural session of the 14th legislature in parliament, in Dakar, July 2022. AFP - CARMEN ABD ALI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

A stormy parliamentary return this Monday for the deputies elected on July 31st.

The presidential camp had narrowly won an absolute majority of 83 deputies, thanks to the rallying of Pape Diop.

The opposition coalitions Yewwi Askan Wi and Wallu Senegal won a total of 80 seats.

The parliamentarians, convened this Monday morning, were to elect the president of the Assembly in stride.

But it didn't go as planned.

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With our correspondent in Dakar,

Charlotte Idrac 

More than 4.5 hours late for the inaugural session, chaired by the Dean of the Assembly, Aida Sow Diawara, in the absence of former President Abdoulaye Wade, 96, who struggled to bring calm. 

There are two points at the origin of the blockages.

First the case of deputies who are also ministers: for the opposition, it is an incompatibility, they should have resigned.

Then there is a discrepancy over the ballots for the position of Speaker of the Assembly. 

Tempers flared several times with spades, insults, cacophony, even tussles or even a micro-snatch. 

No single candidate for the opposition

Regarding the post of President of the Assembly, it is the surprise on the side of the majority Benno Bokk Yakaar with the candidacy of Amadou Mame Diop, deputy mayor of Richard-Toll.

His name has not yet been mentioned. 

Snack leaders Yewwi Askan Wi finally chose Barthelemy Dias, mayor of Dakar as their candidate.

But the mayor of Guediawaye, Ahmed Aidara, from the same camp, is also in the running.

Finally, Wallu Senegal chose Mamadou Lamine Thiam.

There is therefore no single candidate from the opposition, which had formed an electoral alliance

for the legislative elections

.

Even before the start of the vote for the presidency of the Assembly, several deputies threw their ballots on the ground.

New bang on the first day of this 14th legislature, decidedly very agitated.

At this time, the vote has still not taken place.

To read also: Senegal: the deputies return to parliament, who to climb to the perch?

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