Senegal’s parliament voted on Monday to postpone the presidential election scheduled for February 25 until December 15.
Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, had previously postponed the election “indefinitely” due to issues with the “candidates list”.
The list of candidates was validated and published by constitutional council members, two of whom are currently facing “corruption” charges.
Despite the opposition party’s strong opposition to the postponement, 105 lawmakers voted in favour of the election delay, with only one opposed.
Several opposition members were removed from the chamber during the voting process, ostensibly in order to allow the vote to proceed.
Sall’s term officially ends on April 2, but following a vote by lawmakers on Monday, the president’s tenure has been extended until after the election.
Senegal has been plunged into political chaos over the last week, following Sall’s announcement of an indefinite election delay.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had urged the government to “accelerate the various processes in order to establish a new date for the elections.”
“The commission further urges the entire political class to prioritize dialogue and collaboration for transparent, inclusive and credible elections,” the statement from ECOWAS reads.
The Senegalese government turned off the internet in the West African country on Monday as part of a plan to quell protests and growing civil unrest.
Source: TheCable