An urgent appeal has been lodged by the Head of State’s legal representative, calling upon the Constitutional Council to deliver its ruling within the timeframe stipulated by the organic law governing this esteemed institution. This swift legal action underscores the gravity of the situation.
The formal request, officially registered with the Constitutional Council’s registry on the same day, arrived accompanied by a comprehensive dossier. This documentation pertains to the process of examining and adopting the proposed constitutional bill, including crucial papers originating from the Presidency of the Republic, the National Assembly, and the government itself.
The Constitutional Council is now tasked with the critical responsibility of determining both the admissibility and the fundamental merits of this challenge, in strict accordance with the legal provisions currently in force.
The constitutional overhaul, which secured passage in the National Assembly at the close of June, was spearheaded by the ruling Pastef party (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité), holding a significant parliamentary majority. This reform notably seeks to realign the powers between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, bolster the prerogatives of the National Assembly, and establish a new Constitutional Court to supersede the existing Constitutional Council.
Furthermore, the proposed text introduces amendments to more than thirty articles within the Constitution. It specifically mandates the incompatibility between holding the office of President of the Republic and simultaneously leading a political party. The reform also enshrines new powers for Parliament, prominently featuring the capacity to adopt resolutions.
