Senegalese president calls for smooth parliamentary election campaign

DAKAR, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday called for a “smooth electoral campaign” during a routine ministerial meeting, urging political parties to ensure the legislative elections, which will start Sunday, proceed peacefully.
Faye said the campaign for the Nov. 17 legislative elections must be conducted responsibly, in peace, and in the nation’s best interests, in full accordance with the laws and regulations.
He instructed the government to provide the necessary resources for the smooth conduct of the electoral campaign and parliamentary elections, both within Senegal and abroad.
A total of 41 party lists or coalitions are set to participate in the parliamentary elections.
In September, Faye dissolved the National Assembly and called for new legislative elections on Nov. 17. Although Faye won the presidential election in March with 54.28 percent of the vote, his party, the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity, holds a minority in the National Assembly, where the coalition of former President Macky Sall held the majority of the 165 seats. ■