Senegalese lawmakers postpone presidential election to 15 December

Senegal’s parliament voted to hold a postponed presidential election on 15 December in the face of a public outcry over the decision by President Macky Sall to postpone the elections due later this month. The decision threatens to tarnish Senegal’s reputation as a bastion of democratic stability in a region swept by coups.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse protests outside parliament as lawmakers discussed the bill that initially proposed rescheduling the 25 February vote to 25 August. This would keep Sall in power until his successor is elected.

However, just before the final vote, the bill was amended to propose a later election date of 15 Dec., an amendment that was passed by 105 MPs in the 165-seat Assembly.

The last-minute amendment to postpone the election to December rather than August is likely to provoke further opposition backlash.

Credit: rfi

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