afrol News, 29 August - A constitutional council in Senegal yesterday confirmed a landslide by the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party of President Abdoulaye Wade in the 19 August senatorial polls.

The council confirmed that ruling polled 34 of the 35 senatorial seats in what it called an open contest. A single seat was won by an opposition And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism (AJ/PADS).

The total number of Senators is pegged at 60, which means 65 others will be nominated by President Wade.

The senate was created by the former Senegalese President, Abdou Diouf, in 1999, but it was abolished by Mr Wade in 2001, arguing that the body was a waste of resources.

However, the body was re-instated by the Senegalese National Assembly in May 2007.

A constitutional amendment ranks the Speaker of the Senate as the second highest ranking authority in the country who succeeds the President to the throne whenever the need arises.

Over 12,000 voters - legislators, municipal and regional councillors - voted in the polls.

The main opposition parties boycotted the polls, questioning the democratic status of the Senate since the President is mandated to appoint more of its members. They had earlier boycotted the legislative polls, complaining that the 25 February president polls was marred by fraud.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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