The Front for the Defense of the Republic (FDR) has formally called for the immediate removal of Ousmane Sonko from the National Assembly, labeling his parliamentary seat as illegal and illegitimate. In a statement released this Wednesday, the coalition led by Khalifa Sall condemned what it describes as an orchestrated parliamentary coup orchestrated by the PASTEF movement.
The FDR’s declaration follows a unified stance from 147 political parties and civil society groups, which on May 24 signed a joint statement denouncing the alleged constitutional breach. The coalition also commended opposition lawmakers for filing a petition with the Constitutional Council to challenge Sonko’s mandate.
Legal challenges mount against Sonko’s parliamentary status
The FDR argues that Sonko’s continued presence in the Assembly violates Article LO172 of the Electoral Code, which mandates that a minister elected as a deputy forfeits their seat if they fail to resign from government within eight days. The coalition asserts that PASTEF attempted to bypass this rule by amending the Assembly’s internal regulations—a move the FDR deems unconstitutional on two fronts:
- Constitutional violations: The coalition contends that the Constitution requires such amendments to be codified in the Electoral Code through an organic law, not embedded in internal procedural rules. The FDR emphasizes that the Assembly’s regulations are strictly designed to govern internal operations, as defined in Article 1 of its charter.
- Unrecognized parliamentary roles: The amended rules introduced the concept of ‘deputy substitutes’, a category not recognized under Senegalese law outside of departmental and proportional electoral systems. The FDR argues this creates a legal gray zone that undermines democratic integrity.
The coalition further accuses PASTEF of violating both the Constitution and the Electoral Code by exploiting a loophole in the Assembly’s regulations. The FDR insists that no institution—including the Assembly itself—can override constitutional mandates through internal adjustments.
Call for unified resistance against unconstitutional practices
In its statement, the FDR urged all national stakeholders to rally behind a ‘battle action plan’ to uphold the rule of law and prevent what it terms a slide toward authoritarianism. The coalition framed Sonko’s disputed mandate as a test case for Senegal’s democratic resilience, warning that unchecked legal maneuvering could set a dangerous precedent.
