afrol News, 15 May - Senegalese voters are expected to return to the polls to elect their lawmakers on 3 June. But the polls will go on without the country’s major opposition parties who are still crying foul over the conduct of the 25 February Presidential polls, which ushered in the incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade to power with over 55 percent of the valid votes.

Parties of the Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, have been campaigning for boycott of the polls. Mr Seck, the former Prime Minister, ranked second in the Presidential polls while Mr Dieng who heads the former ruling Parti Socialiste third.

While the core of the opposition complained of voter irregularities during the last President polls, international observers maintained that they were free and fair.

Official campaign for the June elections kicked off at the weekend. But it is still unclear whether the elections will take place as planned because the boycotting opposition filed an official complaint with the State Council.

Opposition parties said Mr Wade’s failure to change the electoral process – revision of voter list and creation of an independent structure that replaces the electoral commission whose officials are appointed by the President. They also campaigned for the sacking of Ousmane Ngom, the Interior Minister.

Over 4,000 candidates, including those from 14 opposition parties are fighting for 150 seats. The ruling party of Mr Wade is expected to sweep the polls with an overwhelming majority. After casting his vote on 25 February, President Wade told the press, “door dorat”, Wollof words meaning “I will win and win”. He was confident of winning both the Presidential and legislative elections.

Senegal is undoubtedly one of African countries endowed with several years of uninterrupted democracy. Though it finds itself in a volatile region, Senegal is yet to experience coups or countercoups.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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