20th century – 21st century
Senegal
Abdoulaye Wade was the opposition leader who won Senegal’s March 2000 presidential election against incumbent Abdou Diouf. His victory ended nearly forty years of Socialist rule and initiated a peaceful change of national leadership. As president, Wade’s government pursued decentralization, won control of most local councils in 2000, and secured approval for a new constitution in a January 2001 referendum.
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The Story
Abdoulaye Wade entered the March 2000 presidential election as leader of the Senegalese Democratic Party, or PDS. He faced President Abdou Diouf in a close contest that required a tense second round of voting. Wade emerged victorious, producing Senegal’s first change from the long Socialist political order described in the excerpt.
The transfer of power was peaceful. The postelection transition was characterized by the absence of violence and by good conduct among the candidates, while Wade’s coalition gained control of most rural, regional, and city councils in local elections held during 2000.
Wade’s government also promoted decentralization. In January 2001, voters approved a new constitution by a 94 percent majority; the constitution abolished the Senate, which the excerpt describes as a body without directly elected members. The continuing conflict in Casamance remained a major challenge for his administration.
Abdoulaye Wade entered the presidency as Senegal’s principal opposition leader in the 2000 election. He represented the Senegalese Democratic Party and benefited from the support of a coalition of other opposition parties. The election was judged free and fair, establishing a change in national leadership after decades of socialist-party dominance.
The transition after Wade’s victory was free of violence and characterized by good conduct among the candidates. This peaceful transfer of power distinguished the election as a moment of institutional continuity as well as political change. Wade’s coalition subsequently gained control of most rural, regional, and city councils in local elections held the same year.
The new government continued to implement decentralized regional and local administrations. In January 2001, a referendum held under the new political order approved a constitution that abolished the Senate, a body without directly elected members. Wade’s rise therefore formed part of a broader reconfiguration of Senegalese political institutions.
20th century – 21st century
Senegal
Abdoulaye Wade was the opposition leader who won Senegal’s March 2000 presidential election against incumbent Abdou Diouf. His victory ended nearly forty years of Socialist rule and initiated a peaceful change of national leadership. As president, Wade’s government pursued decentralization, won control of most local councils in 2000, and secured approval for a new constitution in a January 2001 referendum.
Continue exploring
The Story
Abdoulaye Wade entered the March 2000 presidential election as leader of the Senegalese Democratic Party, or PDS. He faced President Abdou Diouf in a close contest that required a tense second round of voting. Wade emerged victorious, producing Senegal’s first change from the long Socialist political order described in the excerpt.
The transfer of power was peaceful. The postelection transition was characterized by the absence of violence and by good conduct among the candidates, while Wade’s coalition gained control of most rural, regional, and city councils in local elections held during 2000.
Wade’s government also promoted decentralization. In January 2001, voters approved a new constitution by a 94 percent majority; the constitution abolished the Senate, which the excerpt describes as a body without directly elected members. The continuing conflict in Casamance remained a major challenge for his administration.
Abdoulaye Wade entered the presidency as Senegal’s principal opposition leader in the 2000 election. He represented the Senegalese Democratic Party and benefited from the support of a coalition of other opposition parties. The election was judged free and fair, establishing a change in national leadership after decades of socialist-party dominance.
The transition after Wade’s victory was free of violence and characterized by good conduct among the candidates. This peaceful transfer of power distinguished the election as a moment of institutional continuity as well as political change. Wade’s coalition subsequently gained control of most rural, regional, and city councils in local elections held the same year.
The new government continued to implement decentralized regional and local administrations. In January 2001, a referendum held under the new political order approved a constitution that abolished the Senate, a body without directly elected members. Wade’s rise therefore formed part of a broader reconfiguration of Senegalese political institutions.
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