Wade's re-election bid 'illegal'
2010-11-12 07:51
Dakar - A leading member of Senegal's ruling party has dismissed President Abdoulaye Wade's bid to seek re-election in 2012 as illegal, the first public sign of serious divisions within Wade's PDS party.
The statement by Idrissa Seck, a former prime minister, is the first challenge by a senior PDS official to Wade's plan to stand for a third term, and could point to Seck making a direct challenge to Wade.
Senegal has long enjoyed a reputation as an island of democracy in a turbulent west African region. But critics say Wade's rule, and his plans to extend it, have undermined this and the nation is struggling to shake off the effects of the global economic slow-down.
"The constitutional experts that I have consulted with are categorical: your candidacy for a third term is unconstitutional and therefore inadmissible," Seck said in a letter addressed to Wade which was published in local media on Thursday. "Your current term ends in 2012 and it cannot be renewed."
Senegal's new constitution limits presidents to two terms of five years. But 84-year-old Wade, who came to power in 2000 after years in opposition, argues that his first term did not count because the new constitution did not come into force until 2001.
Seck was formerly Wade's campaign director and confidant before the pair fell out in 2004. Seck stood against Wade in the 2007 election but the pair made up later.
Social problems
Wade has faced criticism for failing to tackle social problems such as seasonal flooding of urban areas and power shortages, while going on foreign trips and building a multi-million dollar "African Renaissance" monument in Dakar.
"If Idrissa Seck puts himself forward for election (in 2012) that could tip the balance, which until now was favouring Wade," said Babacar Justin Ndiaye, a Senegalese political analyst.
Macky Sall, another former prime minister of Wade's, has also said he will be a candidate in 2012.
A group of opposition parties, known as Benno Siggil Senegal (Lifting Up Senegal Together), has also held months of talks on challenging Wade in 2012.
Last year Senegal successfully launched a $200m Eurobond for road building and is looking to sell a $300m bond next year to finance road projects.
A series of crises have hit Senegal, ranging from a jump in food and fuel prices to the global economic slowdown, and local businesses have complained about a summer of power cuts.
But Standard Chartered bank said in a note earlier this month that Senegal's economic performance this year was likely to be better than anticipated, with growth rising to 4% from 2.2% in 2009.
"Longer-term, Senegal still lags the rest of Africa and faces the challenge of raising its growth potential," it said.