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| Africa Subsaharan | |
| Macky Sall Defeats Incumbent President Wade, Hails 'New Era' | |
| 2012-03-27 | |
| [Tripoli Post] Senegal's ... a nation of about 14 million on the west coast of Africa bordering Mauretania to the north, Mali to the east, and a pair of Guineas to the south, one of them Bissau. It is 90 percent Mohammedan and has more than 80 political parties. Its primary purpose seems to be absorbing refugees... President Abdoulaye Wade Another octogenarian wannabe president-for-life... ...if he's made it to octogenarian then he's no longer a wannabe...
As thousands of his supporters began celebrating in the streets of the capital, Dakar, particularly in front of his headquarters soon as the results came in, Macky Sall, said the poll marks a "new era" for the country, stressing that the people were the main winners in the poll. Although official results from Sunday's election are not expected before Tuesday, people danced and sang for joy, honking their horns, with thousands more descending on Independence Square to celebrate. The Senegalese Press Agency said 85-year-old Wade, "phoned his rival Macky Sall at 23.30 (CET) to congratulate him after the first results showed him to be the winner of a presidential run-off" vote. It helped ease fears that Wade, who had controversially changed the constitution to allow himself a third term, would try to stay in office or challenge the victory of Sall, his former protege. Wade, who has ruled the West African nation for 12 years, lost in a number of key voting areas including in his home precinct in Dakar. Thijs Berman, the head of the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... observer mission to Senegal, said the results were very clear - about 65% for Mr Sall and 35% for Mr Wade so "there is no hesitation as to who is the winner". The election comes just days after a military coup in neighbouring Mali. Mr Wade brought in a two-term limit for presidential office, but argued that the limit should not apply to his first term which came in before the constitution was changed. His argument was upheld by the constitutional court in January, prompting widespread protests in which six people died. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Though he does seem to have failed at the "for life" bit. Well, that honorific title, for an octogenarian, can still be achieved before the inauguration of the new President. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2012-03-27 19:24 |