Ousmane Sonko, the president of the National Assembly, has urged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to promulgate the law on constitutional revision, which was adopted by a qualified majority of deputies this Monday. According to Sonko, the head of state cannot pick and choose which constitutional provisions suit him, nor can he submit this text to a referendum, because in his interpretation, a vote by three-fifths of the National Assembly constitutes both adoption and approval.
Speaking after the vote on the reform, Sonko reminded that “the constituent power” belongs to the National Assembly when it is convened. He considered that the president’s referral to the Constitutional Council was unjustified and stated that the high court has already ruled on the procedure applicable to constitutional revisions adopted by Parliament.
The National Assembly president also criticised Diomaye’s stance on several reform provisions, particularly the requirement for the president to declare his assets at the start and end of his term, and the ban on leading a political party while in office. Sonko recalled that these commitments were once advocated by the current head of state when he was in the opposition.
Describing the reform as “one of the most consolidating” for Senegalese democracy, Sonko argued that it will strengthen transparency in public management while reducing the cost of democratic functioning. He finally called on the president to reconsider his position and promulgate the law, judging that a referendum on these provisions would be unnecessary.
