The High Authority for Party Regulation (HARP) within PASTEF-Les Patriotes formally initiated the process to elect the party’s president on May 14, 2026. As outlined in decision N°001/2026/HARP, the window for submitting candidacies commenced on May 15 and will close promptly at noon on May 20, 2026.
Addressing President Diomaye Faye’s call for reform?
Crucially, this directive does not grant automatic re-election to the incumbent president, Ousmane Sonko. Instead, it formally opens the leadership contest to all factions within the party, allowing the current Prime Minister to seek a renewed mandate but without any guaranteed path to the organization’s helm.
This formalized competition directly addresses recent public remarks by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who had openly critiqued the party for being overly «personified». By establishing a transparent and regulated procedure, HARP directly responds to this criticism, simultaneously raising pertinent questions about PASTEF’s leadership as it navigates a pivotal juncture.
When questioned recently about PASTEF’s potential candidate for the 2029 presidential election, Diomaye Faye had clearly stated that any designation would depend on the outcomes of the party’s upcoming congress, indicating that the internal candidate selection was far from settled. This current leadership election serves as a crucial preliminary step before that broader debate.
A tight five-day window for candidacies
The timeline established by HARP is notably stringent. Prospective candidates have a mere five working days to compile and submit their applications, using a standardized declaration form appended to the official decision. HARP’s deliberation that set these terms was concluded during a special session held on May 14, 2026.
The outcome of this pivotal internal ballot will officially determine the face of PASTEF leading up to its next congress, where the critical decision regarding the party’s presidential candidate for 2029 is expected to be finalized.
