2017 Senegalese parliamentary election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Senegal
| previous_election = 2012
| next_election = 2022
| election_date = 30 July 2017
| seats_for_election = All 165 seats in the National Assembly
| majority_seats = 83
| first_election = yes
| turnout = 53.66%
| party1 = United in Hope | leader1 = Mohammed Dionne | percentage1 = 49.47 | seats1 = 125
| party2 = MWS | leader2 = Abdoulaye Wade | percentage2 = 16.68 | seats2 = 19 | color2 = #6A97BA
| party3 = Manko Taxawu Sénégal | leader3 = Khalifa Sall | percentage3 = 11.73 | seats3 = 7
| party4 = Party for Unity and Rally | leader4 = {{ill|Issa Sall|fr}} | percentage4 = 4.69 | seats4 = 3
| party5 = Kaddu Askan Wi | leader5 = Abdoulaye Baldé | percentage5 = 1.97 | seats5 = 2 | color5 = #0000FF
| party6 = Ndawi Askan Wi | leader6 = | percentage6 = 1.13 | seats6 = 1
| party7 = MYS | leader7 = | percentage7 = 1.00 | seats7 = 1 | color7 = pink
| party8 = Patriotic Convergence for Justice and Equity | leader8 = | percentage8 = 0.89 | seats8 = 1
| party9 = Oser l'avenir | leader9 = | percentage9 = 0.74 | seats9 = 1
| party10 = And Saxal Liggeey | leader10 = | percentage10 = 0.70 | seats10 = 1
| party11 = Party for Truth and Development | leader11 = Cheikh Ahmadou Kara Mbacké | percentage11 = 0.69 | seats11 = 1
| party12 = PA3V | leader12 = | percentage12 = 0.59 | seats12 = 1
| party13 = IPD | leader13 = | percentage13 = 0.58 | seats13 = 1
| party14 = Bunt Bi | leader14 = | percentage14 = 0.55 | seats14 = 1
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Mohammed Dionne
| before_party = Independent politician
| posttitle = Prime Minister after election
| after_election = Mohammed Dionne
| after_party = Independent politician
}}{{Politics of Senegal}}
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal on 30 July 2017 to elect the 165 members of the National Assembly after being postponed from the originally scheduled date of 2 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/political/2017/06/30/senegal-divided-opposition-legislative-election/|title=Senegal – A divided opposition for the legislative election|date=30 June 2017|last=Leitner|first=Claire|website=CNBCAfrica|accessdate=6 July 2017|archive-date=3 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303205440/https://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/political/2017/06/30/senegal-divided-opposition-legislative-election/|url-status=dead}} President Macky Sall's United in Hope coalition won a landslide victory and maintained its overall majority.
Background
The original election date was chosen on 1 December 2016 after a meeting between the President of Senegal Macky Sall and the Opposition in the National Assembly.{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2016/12/02/97001-20161202FILWWW00189-senegal-elections-legislatives-le-2-juillet-2017.php|title=Sénégal: élections législatives le 2 juillet 2017|date=12 December 2016|website=Le Figaro|language=French|accessdate=17 June 2017}}
The coalition of parties supporting President Sall, Benno Bokk Yaakaar, sought to retain the parliamentary majority it obtained in the 2012 parliamentary election. It included Sall's party, the Alliance for the Republic, as well as the Socialist Party and the Alliance of the Forces of Progress. The coalition's national candidate list was headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne.{{cite web|url=http://www.seneweb.com/news/Politique/la-liste-nationale-de-benno-bokk-yaakaar_n_219163.html|title=Législatives : Les listes de Benno Bokk Yaakaar|website=Seneweb|language=French|date=10 June 2017|accessdate=5 October 2017}}
Plans for a united opposition coalition that would incorporate the Senegalese Democratic Party of Abdoulaye Wade as well as the supporters of imprisoned Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall were ultimately scuttled in late May 2017 because the two sides could not agree on who should head the coalition's candidate list. Consequently the two sides decided to stand separately, with Wade and Khalifa Sall each heading their respective lists. The opposition's failure to unite was viewed as a boon for President Sall, making it appear more likely that he would keep his parliamentary majority; if his supporters lost, he would be forced into cohabitation for the remaining two years of his term, greatly curtailing his powers.[http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/05/30/senegal-l-ancien-president-wade-candidat-aux-legislatives_5136070_3212.html "Sénégal : l’ancien président Wade candidat aux législatives"], Le Monde, 30 May 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.Benjamin Roger, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/443423/politique/legislatives-senegalaises-coalition-de-lopposition-implose-abdoulaye-wade-retour/ "Législatives sénégalaises : la coalition de l’opposition implose, Abdoulaye Wade sur le retour"], Jeune Afrique, 30 May 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.
Electoral system
The 165 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods; 90 are elected by either first-past-the-post or party bloc vote in single- or multi-member constituencies based on the departments, with an additional 15 elected by overseas voters. The other 60 seats are elected from a nationwide constituency by proportional representation, with seats allocated initially using the simple quotient, with remaining seats allocated using the largest remainder method.{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2277_B.htm|title=Senegal Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)|publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union|accessdate=17 June 2017}}
Campaign
The official campaign period began on 8 July. Wade, who had been living in France, returned to Dakar on 10 July to begin campaigning for his coalition, Manko Wattu Sénégal.Benjamin Roger, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/455948/politique/senegal-abdoulaye-wade-de-retour-a-dakar-mener-campagne/ "Sénégal : Abdoulaye Wade de retour à Dakar pour mener campagne"], Jeune Afrique, 10 July 2017 {{in lang|fr}}. A record number of parties, 47, contested the elections.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/462131/politique/senegal-les-electeurs-dans-lattente-des-resultats-des-legislatives/ "Sénégal : les électeurs dans l’attente des résultats des législatives"], Jeune Afrique, 31 July 2017 (in French)
Results
Voter turnout was reported to be 54%. Prime Minister Dionne, speaking on 31 July, said that the pro-Sall Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition had prevailed in 42 out of the 45 departments of Senegal (all but Kédougou, Saraya and "probably" Mbacké). The opposition coalition led by Khalifa Sall, however, said that it had won in Dakar, the capital.[http://fr.africatime.com/senegal/db/legislatives-au-senegal-la-majorite-revendique-une-large-victoire "Législatives au Sénégal: la majorité revendique une large victoire"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802082703/http://fr.africatime.com/senegal/db/legislatives-au-senegal-la-majorite-revendique-une-large-victoire |date=2017-08-02 }}, Agence France-Presse, 1 August 2017 {{in lang|fr}}. Results for Dakar released on 3 August showed Benno Bokk Yaakaar slightly ahead of Khalifa Sall's coalition, Manko Taxawu Sénégal.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/463364/politique/legislatives-au-senegal-la-coalition-de-macky-sall-victorieuse-a-dakar-selon-les-resultats-partiels/ "Législatives au Sénégal : la coalition de Macky Sall victorieuse à Dakar selon les résultats partiels"], Jeune Afrique, 3 August 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.
Provisional results released on 4 August showed Benno Bokk Yaakaar winning 125 out of 165 seats, a strong majority. The two main opposition coalitions trailed distantly; Manko Wattu Sénégal (led by Wade) obtained 19 seats and Manko Taxawu Sénégal (led by Khalifa Sall) obtained seven seats.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170805142025/https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1AL07X-OZATP "Senegal ruling party wins large parliamentary majority"], Reuters, 5 August 2017.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/depeches/464037/politique/senegal-la-majorite-presidentielle-remporte-haut-la-main-les-legislatives/ "Sénégal : la majorité présidentielle remporte haut la main les législatives"], Agence France-Presse, 5 August 2017 {{in lang|fr}}. The presidential coalition was slightly short of a majority in the vote count, receiving 49.5% of the votes.
|image=File:Senegal Assemblee Nationale 2017.svg
|seattype1=Constituency|seattype2=National|seattype3=Total
|party1=United in Hope|votes1=1637761|st1t1=95|st2t1=30|st3t1=125
|party2=Manko Wattu Sénégal Coalition|votes2=552095|st1t2=9|st2t2=10|st3t2=19|color2=#6A97BA
|party3=Manko Taxawu Sénégal Coalition|votes3=388188|st1t3=0|st2t3=7|st3t3=7|color3=#FF8040
|party4=Party for Unity and Rally|votes4=155407|st1t4=0|st2t4=3|st3t4=3
|party5=Kaddu Askan Wi Coalition|votes5=65235|st1t5=1|st2t5=1|st3t5=2|color5=#0000FF
|party6=Ndawi Askan Wi|votes6=37535|st1t6=0|st2t6=1|st3t6=1
|party7=Manko Yeesal Sénégal Coalition|votes7=33130|st1t7=0|st2t7=1|st3t7=1|color7=pink
|party8=Patriotic Convergence for Justice and Equity|votes8=29596|st1t8=0|st2t8=1|st3t8=1
|party9=Oser l'avenir Coalition|votes9=24342|st1t9=0|st2t9=1|st3t9=1
|party10=National Alliance for Democracy – And Saxal Liggeey|votes10=23142|st1t10=0|st2t10=1|st3t10=1|color10=#0000fe
|party11=Party for Truth and Development|votes11=22769|st1t11=0|st2t11=1|st3t11=1
|party12=Alternative Pole Third Voice|votes12=19675|st1t12=0|st2t12=1|st3t12=1
|party13=Initiative for a Policy of Development|votes13=19211|st1t13=0|st2t13=1|st3t13=1
|party14=Bunt Bi|votes14=18268|st1t14=0|st2t14=1|st3t14=1
|party15=Union for Federalism and Democracy|votes15=17636|st1t15=0|st2t15=0|st3t15=0
|party16=Senegal Can Kanam Coalition|votes16=16142|st1t16=0|st2t16=0|st3t16=0
|party17=Manko Wattu Senegal coalition|votes17=14681|st1t17=0|st2t17=0|st3t17=0
|party18=Movement for Republican Renewal|votes18=14255|st1t18=0|st2t18=0|st3t18=0
|party19=Joyyanti Coalition|votes19=14231|st1t19=0|st2t19=0|st3t19=0
|party20=Défar Senegal|votes20=14179|st1t20=0|st2t20=0|st3t20=0
|party21=And Défar Sénégal/Group of Support and Renewal of Public Action|votes21=13145|st1t21=0|st2t21=0|st3t21=0
|party22=And Suxali Senegal Coalition|votes22=12541|st1t22=0|st2t22=0|st3t22=0
|party23=Rally for Dignity and Prosperity|votes23=11415|st1t23=0|st2t23=0|st3t23=0
|party24=Democratic Federation of Ecologists of Senegal|votes24=10957|st1t24=0|st2t24=0|st3t24=0
|party25=Leeral Coalition|votes25=9689|st1t25=0|st2t25=0|st3t25=0
|party26=Party of Peace|votes26=8850|st1t26=0|st2t26=0|st3t26=0
|party27=Convergence of the Initiatives for Senegal|votes27=8776|st1t27=0|st2t27=0|st3t27=0
|party28=Neneen Citizen Convention|votes28=8727|st1t28=0|st2t28=0|st3t28=0
|party29=Mbollo Wade|votes29=8093|st1t29=0|st2t29=0|st3t29=0
|party30=Sunu Party for Solidarity and the Development of Senegal|votes30=7758|st1t30=0|st2t30=0|st3t30=0
|party31=Alternative Visions for Senegal|votes31=7590|st1t31=0|st2t31=0|st3t31=0
|party32=Fal Askan Wi Coalition|votes32=7474|st1t32=0|st2t32=0|st3t32=0
|party33=Framework of Reflection for Integral Development|votes33=7295|st1t33=0|st2t33=0|st3t33=0
|party34=Soppali Coalition|votes34=7268|st1t34=0|st2t34=0|st3t34=0
|party35=The Third Policy Coalition|votes35=7033|st1t35=0|st2t35=0|st3t35=0
|party36=National Front|votes36=6605|st1t36=0|st2t36=0|st3t36=0
|party37=Party for Citizen Action|votes37=6551|st1t37=0|st2t37=0|st3t37=0
|party38=Senegal-Vein Environment|votes38=6398|st1t38=0|st2t38=0|st3t38=0
|party39=Senegalese Democratic Rally|votes39=6099|st1t39=0|st2t39=0|st3t39=0
|party40=Alliance for Reform and Development|votes40=5664|st1t40=0|st2t40=0|st3t40=0
|party41=Citizens for Ethics and Transparency|votes41=4980|st1t41=0|st2t41=0|st3t41=0
|party42=Dental Senegal/Patriotic Action|votes42=4300|st1t42=0|st2t42=0|st3t42=0
|party43=Movement for Renewal, Freedom and Development|votes43=4193|st1t43=0|st2t43=0|st3t43=0
|party44=Patriotic Liberal Convergence|votes44=3301|st1t44=0|st2t44=0|st3t44=0
|party45=Republican Patriotic Front|votes45=3156|st1t45=0|st2t45=0|st3t45=0
|party46=Bi Nu Begg Assembly Coalition|votes46=2951|st1t46=0|st2t46=0|st3t46=0
|party47=Rally for Ethics and Emerging Values|votes47=2148|st1t47=0|st2t47=0|st3t47=0
|invalid=27059
|total_st1t=105|total_st2t=60|total_st3t=165|total_st4t=
|electorate=6219446
|source=[http://senego.com/voici-lintegralite-des-resultats-definitifs-des-elections-legislatives-de-2017-documents_514559.html Senego]
}}
Aftermath
Following the victory of Benno Bokk Yaakaar, President Sall reappointed Dionne as Prime Minister on 6 September 2017.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/472110/politique/senegal-macky-sall-reconduit-son-premier-ministre/ "Sénégal : Macky Sall reconduit son Premier ministre"], Jeune Afrique, 6 September 2017 {{in lang|fr}}. Abdoulaye Wade, elected to the National Assembly as the top candidate on his coalition's candidate list, announced his resignation as a Deputy on 10 September, before the National Assembly even began meeting. He explained that his purpose in running was merely to support his coalition in the election.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/473138/politique/senegal-abdoulaye-wade-demissionne-de-son-poste-de-depute-a-lassemblee-nationale/ "Sénégal : Abdoulaye Wade démissionne de son poste de député à l’Assemblée Nationale"], Jeune Afrique, 11 September 2017 {{in lang|fr}}.