The High Authority of Party Regulation (HARP) of PASTEF-Les Patriotes officially initiated the procedure for electing the party president on May 14, 2026. According to Decision N°001/2026/HARP, the submission period for candidacies is open from May 15 until May 20, 2026, at noon.
a procedure responding to diomaye’s criticisms?
The decision makes no special provision for the outgoing leader, Ousmane Sonko; instead, it formally opens the competition to all party factions. This allows the current Prime Minister the opportunity to seek a renewed mandate, but without guaranteeing him automatic access to the organization’s top position.
This formalization of competition echoes public statements made by President of the Republic Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who had previously criticized the party for being overly «personified». By establishing an open and regulated process, HARP directly addresses this critique, simultaneously raising questions about PASTEF’s leadership during a crucial period.
When questioned recently about the party’s potential candidate for the 2029 presidential election, Diomaye Faye had conditioned any designation on the conclusions of the upcoming congress, indicating that the candidate issue was not yet settled internally. The holding of this party leadership election constitutes a preliminary step toward that broader debate.
five days to submit a candidacy
HARP has set a tight timeline: candidates have five working days to compile and submit their applications, utilizing a standard declaration form attached to the decision. HARP’s deliberation was adopted during a special session held on May 14, 2026.
The outcome of this internal ballot will determine who officially embodies PASTEF before the next congress, where the question of the 2029 presidential candidacy is expected to be resolved.
