During a high-energy visit to Louga, a key city in northern Senegal, Ousmane Sonko—leader of Pastef Les Patriotes and Speaker of the National Assembly—took the opportunity to directly address President Bassirou Diomaye Faye regarding the upcoming local elections. The visit, part of a broader campaign to promote party membership drives, drew significant crowds of activists and supporters eager to engage with their political representative.
The timing of Sonko’s speech was deliberate, as he sought to underscore the urgency of setting a definitive date for the local elections. He drew a clear parallel between administrative decrees already issued by the president—such as those dismissing officials—and the equally critical decree needed to schedule the electoral process.
« Issuing a decree to remove Fadilou Keïta, Waly Diouf Bodiang, or others is within the president’s authority—no one disputes that. But equally, a decree must be issued to set the election date. These are all routine administrative acts, » Sonko stated, emphasizing his point to resounding applause from the gathered crowd.
Sonko has consistently voiced his opposition to any postponement of the local elections, and his remarks in Louga reflected this stance. He suggested that the delay in announcing the election date might stem from the president’s apprehension about the growing momentum and fervor of the Pastef movement.
« The president may fear the passion and mobilization of the patriots, » Sonko remarked, highlighting what he perceives as a reluctance to confront the current political energy driving the party forward.