PASTEF Secures 130 of 165 Seats in National Assembly, Cementing Legislative Control

DAKAR, Senegal (BG) – Senegal’s Constitutional Council has officially confirmed the landslide victory of the ruling party, the Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), in the parliamentary elections held Nov. 17.

The party secured 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, solidifying its dominant position in the government.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Constitutional Council noted that no complaints were received regarding the preliminary results published by the National Vote Counting Commission, which convened at the Dakar Court of Appeals.

The final results were declared without challenge.

Out of the 7.37 million registered voters, about 3.65 million participated in the elections, resulting in a voter turnout of 49.51%.

A total of 26,487 ballots were deemed invalid, leaving 3,623,633 valid votes.

The ruling PASTEF party obtained 1,991,770 votes, gaining 29 seats from the national ballot and 101 from the majoritarian system, for 130 seats.

This significant majority ensures a stable government with control over legislative decisions.

The Takku Wallu coalition secured 16 seats with 531,466 votes, while the Diam ak Njarin coalition won seven seats with 330,865 votes.

Smaller coalitions, including Sam sa Kaddu and La Marche des Territoires/And Nawlé, received three and two seats, respectively.

Several other coalitions, including And ci Koolute Nguir Sénégal and Sénégal Kesse, won one seat each.

The Constitutional Council’s decision marks the end of the election process, which saw PASTEF consolidate its power with a comfortable parliamentary majority, allowing it to push forward with its legislative agenda in the coming years.

President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and his ally, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, took office in April 2024.

Known for their anti-corruption stance, the leadership’s rise was fueled by widespread discontent with the previous administration and a demand for transparency and accountability in governance.

At a cabinet meeting Wednesday, President Faye informed the council that he would set, by decree, the date for the opening of the first session of the newly elected National Assembly under the Constitution.