Opposition in Burkina Faso Vow to Fight Senate Law Opposition parties walked out of a meeting in parliament this week in protest over the creation of a Senate. The opposition claims the Senate is a backhanded way for the ruling party to stay in power in the event of the death in office of President Blaise Compaore. The proposal is to create an 81-seat Senate, of which 29 seats will be appointed by the president. The opposition, who walked out during the meeting Tuesday, were riled up that the president of the Senate would be designated as successor in the event of the president's death in office. The 62-year-old Compaore has been in office for 26 years. There is growing speculation he is trying to setup a mechanism so that his younger brother takes over when he dies.