SENEGAL: PEOPLE VOTE IN NATIONAL REFERENDUM TO INTRODUCE POST OF PRIME MINISTER

Record ID: 328493

  • Title: SENEGAL: PEOPLE VOTE IN NATIONAL REFERENDUM TO INTRODUCE POST OF PRIME MINISTER
  • Date: 26th February 1970
  • Summary: 1. LV PEOPLE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION 0.05 2. CU ELECTION POSTER 22 FEBRUARY 0.10 3. SV INT. POLLING STATION OFFICIAL & VOTER AT DESK 0.14 4. CU OFFICIALS AT DESK 0.21 5. SV WOMAN TAKES PAPER & INTO POLLING BOOTH 0.29 6. CU MAN PUTS VOTE INTO BOX 0.34 7. SV MAN AT DESK WITH PAPERS (2 SHOTS) 0.41 8. LV WOMEN CHEER AS PRESIDENT & WIFE LEAVES 0.45 9. SV WOMEN WATCHING 0.48 10. SV SENGHOR & WIFE OUT OF CAR & TOWARDS 0.54 11. SV INT. DITTO & WIFE TAKING PAPERS 1.02 12. SV SENGHOR & WIFE PUT PAPERS INTO BOX (2 SHOTS) 1.20 13. SV DITTO & WIFE OUT OF ROOM 1.26 14. LV SENGHOR & WIFE IN CAR LEAVING 1.36 Initials WW/V/JH/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th March 1970 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DAKAR, SENEGAL
  • Country: Senegal
  • Reuters ID: LVABBEQR04EQ0FQF37FWSKKKLJX2
  • Story Text: THE PEOPLE OF SENEGAL VOTED IN A NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON SUNDAY (22 FEBRUARY) FOR A NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION WHICH PROVIDES FOR A PRIME MINISTER AS WELL AS A PRESIDENT.

    PRESIDENT LEOPOLD SENGHOR, WHO VOTED IN THE REFERENDUM TOO, LATER NOMINATED M. ABDOU DIOUF, MINISTER OF PLANNING AND INDUSTRY, TO FILL THE POST.

    LAST DECEMBER IN PARIS, THE 63-YEAR-OLD POET-PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WANTED TO GO INTO 'POETIC RETIREMENT' WITHIN A FEW YEARS AND THAT SENEGAL HAD TO LIVE WITHOUT HIM. HIS MAIN PREOCCUPATION, HE SAID, WAS TO ENSURE HIS SUCCESSION WITH A LESS-CONCENTRATED PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM.

    PRESIDENT SENGHOR HAS HEADED SENEGAL SINCE 1960, WHEN IT SECURED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE.

    A CONSTITUTION INTRODUCED IN 1963 CONCENTRATED ALL EXECUTIVE POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWING AN ATTEMPTED COUP BY M. MAMADOU DIA TO PREVENT PARLIAMENT OUSTING HIM AS PRIME MINISTER.

    THE OFFICIAL RESULT OF THE REFERENDUM, RELEASED YESTERDAY, SHOWS THAT THE VOTE FOR THE NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION WAS OVERWHELMING, WITH 1,261,580 VOTING FOR AND 542 AGAINST.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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