Coalition Calls for Immediate Removal of Controversial Lawmaker
The Front pour la Défense de la République (FDR) has taken a firm stand against the continued presence of Ousmane Sonko in the National Assembly, labeling his mandate as both illegal and illegitimate.
In a strongly worded statement issued this week, the FDR emphasized that Sonko’s parliamentary seat violates fundamental legal principles. The coalition, led by prominent figures including Khalifa Sall, points to a critical legal loophole exploited by Sonko’s party, PASTEF, to maintain his position despite holding a ministerial role.
Legal Arguments Against Sonko’s Mandate
The FDR’s case rests on Article LO172 of the Electoral Code, which mandates that any elected official who assumes a government position must resign from their parliamentary seat within eight days. According to the coalition, PASTEF attempted to bypass this requirement by amending the Assembly’s internal regulations—a move the FDR argues is unconstitutional on multiple fronts.
- Constitutional Violation: The FDR asserts that the Constitution requires such regulatory changes to be enshrined in the Electoral Code through an organic law, not hidden within the Assembly’s procedural rules.
- Unrecognized Legal Category: The coalition highlights that the new regulation introduces the concept of ‘deputy substitutes’, a term not recognized under Senegalese law outside of specific electoral contexts.
- Overreach of Authority: The FDR contends that the Assembly’s internal regulations are strictly limited to procedural matters, as defined in Article 1 of its own rules, and cannot override constitutional or electoral laws.
Unified Opposition Against ‘Parliamentary Coup’
The FDR’s declaration follows a broader coalition of 147 political parties and movements, which united on May 24 to denounce what they describe as an attempted ‘parliamentary coup’ by PASTEF. The coalition also commends opposition lawmakers for filing a petition with the Constitutional Council to challenge Sonko’s mandate.
In calling for nationwide mobilization, the FDR urges civil society, political leaders, and citizens to rally behind a coordinated ‘action plan for justice’ to uphold the rule of law and restore constitutional order.
