Senegal’s ruling party wins parliamentary majority in elections

Senegal’s ruling party won more than three-quarters of parliamentary seats in weekend elections, potentially giving it the means to deliver on its ambitious reform agenda, according to national provisional results announced on Thursday (November 21, 2024).

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s Pastef party won 130 seats in the West African country’s 165-seat National Assembly, according to data provided by the National Vote-Counting Commission, a Pastef official confirmed.

The results of Sunday’s vote are provisional pending confirmation by the Constitutional Council within a five-day period.

The highly influential and charismatic Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who was Pestef’s leading candidate, is considered the mastermind behind the legislative landslide.

The new leaders must meet the expectations of the tough Senegalese population, after coming to power eight months ago promising deep change in the form of leftist Pan-Africanism. The aim, Mr Faye said, is “a coherent and practical systemic change”.