Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DAKAR1258
2007-06-08 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
LOW TURNOUT IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO9964 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHDK #1258 1591421 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081421Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8521 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0052
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001258
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR POL - D,ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI PINS KDEM SG
SUBJECT: LOW TURNOUT IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
REF: A. DAKAR 1173
B. DAKAR 1141
Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER OSMAN N. TAT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001258
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR POL - D,ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI PINS KDEM SG
SUBJECT: LOW TURNOUT IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
REF: A. DAKAR 1173
B. DAKAR 1141
Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER OSMAN N. TAT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).
1. (SBU) On June 3, the people of Senegal voted in
legislative elections. Turnout was an extremely low 34.75
percent with the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS)
securing 131 out of 150 seats in the National Assembly. A
fierce debate has erupted between the boycotting &Front
Siggil Senegal8 and the Government in order to spin the
results to their advantage. Feeling vindicated by the
result, the 17 boycotting opposition parties are claiming a
massive victory and have called on President Wade to resign.
2. (SBU) On June 7, the national vote-counting commission
announced the official results of last weekend,s legislative
election. Out of 5,000,533 registered voters, 34.75 percent
or 1,719,536 people voted. The PDS and its allies secured
131 out of 150 seats in the National Assembly with a dozen
other parties securing between one and three seats. Unless
there is an appeal, the Constitutional Court will officially
announce the results early next week. In the previous
parliament, President Wade,s SOPI Coalition held 89 out of
120 seats. During the 2001 legislative elections, the
turnout was 67.4 percent.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) It is generally agreed that the low turnout was the
result of both election fatigue on the part of the voter and
the fact that without a robust opposition the results were
pre-ordained. While the boycott may have depressed voter
turnout, most Senegalese did not support it directly and
continue to push their leaders for dialogue. The opposition
will continue to claim that the new National Assembly has no
real legitimacy but in the end this is of little consequence
since power in Senegal is concentrated in the hands of
President Wade, who did everything to weaken the very
institution for which people voted for this past weekend.
END COMMENT.
4. (U) Visit Embassy Dakar,s SIPRNET Web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/af/dakar.
JACOBS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR POL - D,ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI PINS KDEM SG
SUBJECT: LOW TURNOUT IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
REF: A. DAKAR 1173
B. DAKAR 1141
Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER OSMAN N. TAT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).
1. (SBU) On June 3, the people of Senegal voted in
legislative elections. Turnout was an extremely low 34.75
percent with the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS)
securing 131 out of 150 seats in the National Assembly. A
fierce debate has erupted between the boycotting &Front
Siggil Senegal8 and the Government in order to spin the
results to their advantage. Feeling vindicated by the
result, the 17 boycotting opposition parties are claiming a
massive victory and have called on President Wade to resign.
2. (SBU) On June 7, the national vote-counting commission
announced the official results of last weekend,s legislative
election. Out of 5,000,533 registered voters, 34.75 percent
or 1,719,536 people voted. The PDS and its allies secured
131 out of 150 seats in the National Assembly with a dozen
other parties securing between one and three seats. Unless
there is an appeal, the Constitutional Court will officially
announce the results early next week. In the previous
parliament, President Wade,s SOPI Coalition held 89 out of
120 seats. During the 2001 legislative elections, the
turnout was 67.4 percent.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) It is generally agreed that the low turnout was the
result of both election fatigue on the part of the voter and
the fact that without a robust opposition the results were
pre-ordained. While the boycott may have depressed voter
turnout, most Senegalese did not support it directly and
continue to push their leaders for dialogue. The opposition
will continue to claim that the new National Assembly has no
real legitimacy but in the end this is of little consequence
since power in Senegal is concentrated in the hands of
President Wade, who did everything to weaken the very
institution for which people voted for this past weekend.
END COMMENT.
4. (U) Visit Embassy Dakar,s SIPRNET Web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/af/dakar.
JACOBS