The FDR demands the invalidation of Ousmane Sonko’s deputy mandate
The Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) has taken a firm stance against the seating of Ousmane Sonko in Senegal’s National Assembly, calling for the immediate revocation of his mandate as a deputy. In an official statement released yesterday, the coalition argued that the legal framework enabling his return to the legislative chamber violates both the national Constitution and the Electoral Code, urging a nationwide mobilization to uphold republican institutions.
The FDR escalated its rhetoric in the ongoing debate surrounding Ousmane Sonko’s presence in the Assembly. In a declaration made public yesterday, the coalition’s leadership coalition condemned what they described as an illegal occupation of a deputy seat by the National Assembly president. They praised the united front formed by political parties, civil society movements, and activists who have rallied against what they labeled a “parliamentary coup attempt” orchestrated by the Pastef party. The FDR highlighted a joint statement signed by 147 political parties and movements on May 24, which denounced the circumstances surrounding Sonko’s reinstatement.
The coalition also commended opposition lawmakers for filing a petition with the Constitutional Council to challenge the legality of the process that allowed Sonko to reclaim his parliamentary seat following his departure from the government. At the heart of the FDR’s objection lies a dispute over the interpretation of constitutional and electoral provisions governing the parliamentary mandates of government members. The coalition insists that Article LO172 of the Electoral Code stipulates that a minister elected as a deputy forfeits their parliamentary mandate if they fail to resign from the government within eight days. They argue that Sonko’s reliance on recent amendments to the Assembly’s internal regulations is legally unfounded.
According to the FDR, the modifications to the Assembly’s rules of procedure cannot override the requirements of an organic law, which alone should govern the conditions for a government member’s return to the National Assembly. The coalition views this reform as a direct violation of the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and even the Assembly’s own regulations. They demand the annulment of the decree that permitted Sonko’s reinstatement, insisting that he “cannot legally hold the position of deputy.” The FDR urges competent authorities to take the necessary legal steps to rectify the situation.
The coalition dismissed claims made by the Pastef leader, who suggested that the opposition’s petition to the Constitutional Council was part of a broader strategy to sideline him politically. Rejecting partisan divisions, the FDR framed its actions as a defense of “democracy and the Republic,” urging all stakeholders to unite behind a unified action plan to prevent what they see as a breach of the nation’s laws and institutions.
This latest intervention by the FDR comes as the Constitutional Council prepares to rule on the constitutionality of the contested provisions. The decision is highly anticipated by both the ruling majority and the opposition, arriving at a time of heightened tensions over the interpretation of the rules governing the relationship between the government and the National Assembly.
