Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s party, Pastef, has secured 130 out of 165 seats in the country’s legislative elections, giving the president a clear parliamentary majority. The results, released on Thursday, enable Faye to move forward with his reform agenda, which focuses on creating jobs, lowering prices, and improving public services.
Faye, who assumed office in April following a landslide victory, dissolved the parliament in September after accusing the opposition of blocking key government bills. With the new majority, he now has the legislative support needed to pass crucial reforms.
Despite the political win, Faye faces the challenge of managing the country’s fiscal crisis. His government is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restart a $1.9 billion program, which has been on hold since June 2023. Analysts warn that balancing public expectations with the IMF’s requirements for budgetary discipline will be difficult.
Pastef representative Amadou Ba said the election results were a strong vote of confidence, signaling broad domestic support for the government’s economic and social reforms.