Barely two months after the Senegalese presidential elections in February, which saw the re-election of the incumbent, President Maitre Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese electorate is set to vote again on June 3, 2007 in the legislative elections. The Legislative election is an opportunity for the electorate to choose some 150 members of parliament, the number of representatives to the National Assembly having been increased from 120 to 150.

However the next Legislature (2007- 2012) will work without representation from the main opposition parties. The main Senegalese opposition parties will not contest the forthcoming legislative election. 12 opposition political parties have decided to boycott the elections. The more prominent parties among these are the former ruling Socialist Party (PS) of Ousmane Tanor Dieng, the Progress Alliance Forces (AFP) of former Prime Minister, Moustapha Niass, LDP/MT of Professor Abdoulaye Bathily, Rewmi of former Prime Minister and Mayor of Thies, Idrissa Seck, the Labor Independence Party (PIT) of Amath Dansokho, RND party of professor Madior Diouf, among other opposition political parties.

A joint statement from the 12 opposition parties said it clearly. "We want more guaranty from Abdoulaye Wade and his government for free, fair and transparent elections. We are not going to participate in a fraudulent competition, as in the February 25, 2007 presidential election during which we have seen many irregularities and fraud," the statement read.

Senegalese opposition parties demand a review of the electoral list, the removal of the current Interior Minister, Maitre Ousmane Ngom, who is a member of the ruling party. M. Ngom has been accused of partiality. They also claim that the National Electoral Commission (CENA) lacks the necessary autonomy and therefore need to be changed into a National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) to make for free and fair election like that of March 2000, which Maitre Wade into power.

Our sources claim that only the less significant Senegalese opposition parties have decided to take part in the elections. This, according to critics, is a calculated ploy by President Wade to legitimise his power.

Some civil society organizations have reportedly resorted to some measures in order to facilitate dialogue between the Senegalese president and the opposition in the interest of the stability of the country. They want the Legislative elections to be postponed in order to gain time for reconciliation between the power and the opponents.

According to some sources, President Wade has expressed readiness to meet with the opposition but on some conditions. Chief among the conditions is that the disputing opposition parties have to recognize his victory in the presidential polls.

But in a press conference held on Friday, CAP 21, the coalition supporting the Senegalese head of state has vehemently denounced the attitude of the opposition, saying that it is not responsible. "Nobody has the right to ask President Wade to adjourn the legislative elections in accordance to laws of the country. The elections would be organised on June 3, 2007. They can boycott."

But to some political observers a boycott is not a good thing for democracy. They hope that an agreement between Maitre Abdoulaye Wade and the leaders of the opposition is reached.

It could be recalled that it is not the first time that the opposition has boycotted elections. The Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), the ruling party, had boycotted local elections in November 1990 for an improvement of the Senegalese democracy.