The Senegalese National Assembly rejected on Monday evening a draft revision of the Constitution put forward by the new authorities and considered as a precursor to the dissolution of the Parliament hostile to the government. The deputies said no by 83 votes to 80 to the draft abolition of two consultative institutions, at the end of heated debates broadcast on social networks.
The new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in March, and his prime minister Ousmane Sonko do not have a majority in the National Assembly elected in 2022 and where the camp of former president Macky Sall continues to dominate.
Possible dissolution of parliament on September 12
In the Senegalese system, Messrs. Faye and Sonko need a parliamentary majority to implement the disruptive policies they promised in the name of left-wing pan-Africanism and social justice. The president can dissolve the Assembly, but not before two years of legislature. He will be able to do so from September 12, the press reported, citing an opinion from the Constitutional Council consulted by the government.
The antagonism has hampered government action. The Prime Minister has not yet delivered a general policy speech to the Assembly.
Motion of censure against the government
The government’s presentation of a seemingly doomed draft constitutional amendment was widely seen as a prelude to a dissolution of the assembly.
The revision would have abolished the High Council of Local Authorities and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council. Messrs. Faye and Sonko promised to abolish these two institutions. Justice Minister Ousma Diagne called on MPs to make better use of public money.
The former president’s coalition accused the government of using a pretext to provoke legislative elections and to prevent the prime minister from making a general policy statement. One of its members, Abdou Mbow, announced the filing of a motion of censure against the government.
