Campaign for the elections officially began Saturday midnight and will last for a period of fifteen days.
Reports said about 2,700 candidates are expected to contest the elections. This seemingly high number has prompted Interior Minister Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo to suggest that discussions will be held to require party sponsorship and payment of electoral deposit for all prospective candidates in the next local elections billed for 2019.
On 20 December 2013, Senegalese MPs passed a draft bill extending until 29 June, the terms of the regional, municipal and rural counsellors elected on 22 March 2009 and adopted a new local community bill. According to the Interior minister it was necessary to prolong the mandate of the local government officials in a bid for them to continue delivering vital local public services.
The local government elections are regarded as a referendum on the performance of current president Macky Sall. The elections are expected to be a three-horse race between the party of the incumbent president and the parties of the two president who preceded him.
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