The legislative landscape in Sénégal is currently marked by unprecedented friction between the executive and legislative branches. Following the National Assembly’s endorsement of a new constitutional proposal, the President of the Parliament, Ousmane Sonko, has openly denounced President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accusing him of abandoning the very reforms he once advocated for during his time in the opposition.
A decade of political reflection at stake
In a direct address to the deputies, Ousmane Sonko underscored that this constitutional overhaul is the result of over ten years of deep political engagement. He noted that the text was shaped by the findings of national dialogues and the contributions of various expert commissions. According to Sonko, these foundational agreements are too significant to be altered by the personal preferences of a sitting leader.
“The Constitution does not belong to Bassirou Diomaye Faye,” he declared, highlighting the President’s apparent desire to roll back specific transparency measures. These include the mandatory declaration of assets at the end of a presidential term and the rule preventing the Head of State from simultaneously leading a political party.
Accusations of selective reform
The Speaker of the Assembly was vocal about his disapproval of how the draft is being handled. He suggested that the President is cherry-picking articles, retaining those that provide advantages while discarding those that impose constraints. Ousmane Sonko argued that this approach contradicts the long-standing commitments of the Pastef party, which have been established since 2014.
“He has begun to look at what suits him and what does not, as President of the Republic,” Sonko remarked during the session. Despite these grievances, he called on Bassirou Diomaye Faye to proceed with the promulgation of the law passed by the deputies. He contended that the qualified majority obtained in the National Assembly is sufficient to validate the constitutional change without the need for a national referendum.
A call for consistency
Closing his remarks with a poignant question, Ousmane Sonko pondered aloud, “What has changed in our little brother and president?” He concluded by expressing his hope that the Head of State would realign himself with the core principles of their political movement and honor the original promises made to the citizens of Sénégal.