Senegal's upcoming elections are postponed, causing a potential constitutional crisis. The hosts explain the meaning of 'looms' and discuss its usage. They also explore the expressions 'hangs by a thread' and 'baffled'.
A postponed election in Senegal has led to protests and clashes with riot police, potentially signaling a looming constitutional crisis.
The delay in elections has put Senegal's democracy in a precarious state, vulnerable to potential failures or collapse.
Deep dives
Democratic Crisis in Senegal
Senegal, a stable democracy in West Africa, faces a democratic crisis as elections are delayed. A recently passed law extends President Makisal's term by ten months, leading to protests and clashes with riot police. The Financial Times headline warns of a looming constitutional crisis resulting from the delay, indicating a potential disagreement about how the government is run. The term 'looms' refers to the imminent occurrence of a negative event. The delay in elections threatens the democratic process, creating a worrisome situation.
Senegal's Democracy in Jeopardy
Senegal's democracy is in a precarious state, as indicated by the Economist's headline 'Senegal's democracy hangs by a thread.' This expression suggests that the democracy is not as secure or strong as it once was. When something 'hangs by a thread,' it is delicate and in danger of failing or collapsing. This idiom can also be used to describe other fragile situations, such as a company facing financial difficulties or employees feeling uncertain about their job security. The headline highlights the vulnerability of Senegal's democracy in the face of the delayed elections.