Senegal ruling party claims victory in legislative elections

Senegal President Macky Sall's ruling coalition says it won 30 of the country's 46 administrative departments, giving it a majority in parliament following Sunday's legislative election.

Sunday's polls were an important test for Sall after local elections in March saw the opposition win in major cities, including Dakar, Ziguinchor in the south and Thies in the west. (AFP)

President Macky Sall's ruling coalition claimed victory in Senegal's legislative elections but the opposition rejected the assertion as a "prefabricated majority".

"We won 30 departments" out of the 46 in the west African country and overseas constituencies, Aminata Toure, head of the presidential coalition, told reporters late on Sunday.

"This undoubtedly gives us a majority in the National Assembly."

"We have given a majority in the National Assembly to our coalition president", Sall, she added, without giving the number of seats won by her camp or whether it was an absolute or relative majority.

Toure however acknowledged her coalition had been defeated in the capital Dakar in Sunday's vote.

The opposition was swift in rejecting Toure's claims.

Barthelemy Dias, a leader of the main opposition coalition headed by former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, spoke of "vulgar lies" and a "prefabricated majority" on private radio RFM.

The opposition had hoped the elections would impose a cohabitation, or divided government, on Sall and curb any ambitions he may have for a third term.

READ MORE: Senegalese voters head to polls in parliamentary elections

Senegal's opposition warns that people will take streets after President Macky Sall's ruling coalition wins a majority in parliament pic.twitter.com/5uvQp1wDfr

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 1, 2022

Opposition collaboration

Some seven million Senegalese were eligible to vote in the election, which passed without any major incidents.

Turnout at several polling stations appeared relatively low, according to AFP news agency correspondents and observers, and the interior ministry said participation had reached 22 percent by 1 pm.

Provisional overall results are expected no later than Friday.

The national election commission has deployed 22,000 observers nationwide. Experts from the regional ECOWAS bloc were also present.

This year, eight coalitions were in the running, including Yewwi Askan Wi ("Liberate the People" in Wolof), the main opposition coalition of Sonko, which came third in the 2019 presidential election.

Ahead of the poll, Yewwi Askan Wi joined forces with Wallu Senegal ("Save Senegal"), led by former president Abdoulaye Wade.

The two groups agreed to work together to obtain a parliamentary majority and "force governmental cohabitation".

READ MORE: Senegal's president wins second term

READ MORE: Senegal launches military operation against rebels in south

Source: AFP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/senegal-ruling-party-claims-victory-in-legislative-elections/?feed_id=5020&_unique_id=62e77a1042872

Coalition partners rejoice Hamza's victory, pay tribute to Chaudhry Shujaat

(Clockwise) PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister Shehbaaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and his sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari. — Twitter/Screengrab/AFP/File

• PM Shehbaz appreciates Asif Ali Zardari for his "historic role".
• Maryam blames Imran Khan of creating rifts between Chaudhry family.
• "Ek Zardari sab pe bhaari," Bilawal writes on Twitter.

---

Following an end to Friday’s dramatic Punjab Assembly session which retained Hamza Shahbaz as the chief minister of Punjab, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Allah for the party's victory today.

“His [Chaudhry Shujaat's] role today is the victory of democracy and constitutional values and I pay tribute to him for his contributions,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that former president Asif Ali Zardari has also played a “historic role” in his political maturity as he pulled the country out of the crisis.

The premier also thanked all coalition parties and their respected leaders for the political insight, unity, and support due to which the “democracy won.”

'Imran Khan created rifts between Chaudhry family'

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of creating rifts between the Chaudhry family. Taking to her Twitter, Maryam said that Khan stole the speakership and the seat of Pervez Elahi because of his willingness to come into power.

“Shujaat took a principled decision despite the pressure and increased his respect and dignity,” she added.

'Shujaat’s decision saved country from Imrani fitna’

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, while speaking during a press conference following the conclusion of the Punjab Assembly session, said Shujaat’s decision saved the country from “Imrani fitna.”

Sanaullah said that the PTI-PML-Q coalition faced defeat because of the unnecessary pride they showed after the results of the Punjab by-polls.

“We accepted our defeat in the by-polls; however, the PTI showed arrogance which is an unfavourable act,” he said, adding that all the leaders of the coalition parties appreciate the decision taken by Shujaat.

He further added that Hamza won the CM's election by the majority, stating that this is the year of elections and “we will win the general elections as well with the majority.”

Regarding Deputy Speake Dost Mazari’s verdict, the interior minister said that the decision was taken according to the earlier judgement of the Supreme Court according to which 25 members of the assembly were unseated. “The decisions taken by the apex court and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) are present people complaining can refer to those,” he said, telling them [PTI] to do whatever they want “we will stop them.”

“If attempts are made to disrupt law and order, this will be dealt with severely,” he warned.

'Ek Zardari sab pe bhaari'

Following Hamza's victory, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to his Twitter account and praised his father, saying, "Ek Zardari sab pe bhaari."

'As you sow, so shall you reap, so sit down'

Meanwhile, Bilalwal's sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari said that the PTI fought to take away individual right to vote and celebrated the Supreme Court's decision that individuals must follow the party head. 

"Cannot go against party head vote. PTI celebrated this decision. What you reap you sow so sit down, watch your mouth and take notes," she wrote on Twitter.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/coalition-partners-rejoice-hamzas-victory-pay-tribute-to-chaudhry-shujaat/?feed_id=265&_unique_id=62daed124d68a