Politics - Senegal in the news

The political climate in Senegal is a bit heated right now. I've mentioned previously how the current president, Abdoulaye Wade, although 85 and having already served his 2 terms, wants to run again in the next election. Senegal currently has a president and a prime minister, but no vice-president. If the president dies or otherwise leaves his position, the head of the National Assembly briefly becomes president until new elections can be organized. Wade has introduced a new bill into the Assembly that would amend the constitution to create a vice-president position and lower the percentage of votes needed in an election to only 25% (rather than 50%). 

Since a fairly small portion of the Senegalese population is literate enough to vote, lowering the amount of votes needed to 25% would essentially allow a candidate to be elected by 5% of the Senegalese population. This would likely allow the president to win another election, even though the majority of people here do not want him to serve again.

If the president does succeed in securing another election, he will serve into his 90's, increasing the chances that he will die during his term. The creation of a vice-president position would more-or-less allow the president to name his successor, as the vice-president would now take office when the president dies. This new bill is being seen by the people as a ploy for the president to hand off power to his oldest son, Karim Wade. Abdoulaye seems desparate to maintain power and the people feel he is attempting to turn the democratic system of Senegal into a monarchy.

Since the vast majority of the National Assmebly and the Senate are in the president's party, there is no doubt that the bill will be passed. To combat this, university classes today have been canceled and the students have taken to the streets in downtown Senegal to protest this change of their constitution. So far, the president has dropped the clause which would change the percentage of votes needed, but the police have been called in to "control" the protestors. The story seems to be getting increasing coverage on the internet, and may very well be on the news tonight.

This post is mainly so no one (parents!) freaks out if it is on the news later. Downtown Senegal is quite far away from where I am, and we are all being kept very safe. I respect the people for protesting such a valid cause, and I hope the president will ultimately honor the wishes of the people he is meant to serve. More updates soon!