Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party and a prominent political figure, has sharply criticized opposition legislators for petitioning the Constitutional Council to overturn his reinstatement as a member of the National Assembly. The move, spearheaded by dissenting deputies and independents, has been framed by Sonko as a deliberate attempt to sabotage his parliamentary role.
Addressing journalists, the former Prime Minister dismissed the legal challenge as a calculated political maneuver. « Their actions are driven by scheming and conspiracy, » he asserted. « The filing with the Constitutional Council stems from this very mindset. Those behind this petition were fully aware that this matter falls outside the Council’s jurisdiction. »
Sonko also accused his opponents of exploiting state institutions to advance partisan agendas, warning that such tactics would not go unchallenged.
Constitutional dispute over parliamentary eligibility
The controversy centers on a group of lawmakers who, in an official statement issued on June 1, 2026, formally requested the high court to invalidate Sonko’s reinstatement. Their argument hinges on Article 54 of the constitution, which they claim was violated when Sonko was reintegrated as a deputy on May 24, 2026. The opposition contends that his prior appointment as Prime Minister, followed by his election in 2024, created an irreconcilable conflict of interest at the time of his legislative return.
Sonko’s response was unequivocal. « If they resort to state coercion to oppose us, we will deploy every constitutional safeguard at our disposal to defend our position, » he declared, signaling a potential escalation in the legal and political confrontation.