President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has made a pivotal decision: to submit the proposed constitutional revision to a national referendum. This strategic move effectively thwarts the parliamentary success achieved by the opposition, particularly Ousmane Sonko’s allies. This bold maneuver reignites the constitutional debate in Senegal and fundamentally alters the balance of power within the National Assembly.
Despite the parliamentary majority granting Pastef a significant victory by adopting the constitutional revision bill with 129 votes, the ultimate authority has emerged from the presidential palace, completely changing the political landscape. According to revelations made by Minister of Justice Me Moussa Sarr, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has chosen not to proceed with the promulgation of the text as it was passed by the National Assembly. Instead, he has invoked Article 103 of the Constitution to put the reform to a public vote via a Senegal constitutional referendum. This decision represents a decisive halt to Pastef’s carefully crafted parliamentary strategy. What appeared to be a clear parliamentary win has been effectively neutralized by the President’s intervention. Everything initially pointed towards a swift adoption. Even with the government’s proposed amendments being rejected, the parliamentary majority had ratified the version that emerged from committee work, reinforcing the political will of the bill’s originators. However, behind the scenes, Bassirou Diomaye Faye…
