Senegal’s National Assembly passed a bill revising the balance of power between the country’s executive and parliament on Monday in a tense session that ended with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announcing a national referendum on the proposed changes. The bill was approved by an overwhelming majority after heated exchanges and a walkout by opposition lawmakers, marking the latest escalation in the political rivalry between Faye and his former ally turned rival, former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
The measure was proposed by PASTEF, the party led by Sonko, who was dismissed as prime minister by Faye in May and then swiftly elected speaker of the National Assembly, a body where PASTEF now controls 130 of the 165 seats. Justice Minister Moussa Sarr told parliament ahead of the vote that “the president has decided to inform the speaker of the National Assembly that he has decided… to put the adopted text to a referendum,” setting the stage for Senegalese voters to decide on the reform.
According to PASTEF, the amendment is aimed at achieving a “better rebalancing of powers” among the executive, legislative and judicial branches in Senegal’s presidential system. Under the revision, the president would no longer be able to lead a political party or coalition, and would be barred from signing certain official acts during the transition period between a presidential election and the inauguration of the president-elect. The drafting of the government programme, currently the president’s prerogative, would henceforth be carried out by the president “in consultation with the prime minister,” who would also gain authority to “make civil service appointments.” In effect, the text strengthens the powers of the National Assembly and the prime minister while curtailing those of the president.
The debate was marked by open tension from the start. Presidential coalition leader Aminata Toure said on Sunday that the proposals “appear aimed at limiting the influence of the president of the republic by increasing the powers of the head of the National Assembly.” Inside the chamber, an opposition MP who proposed postponing the vote and refused to leave the podium after his motion was rejected was forcibly removed by gendarmes. Following that incident, all opposition MPs except one walked out in protest. Outside the Assembly, around 50 protesters, mostly from the Alliance for the Republic, APR, the party of former President Macky Sall, gathered and attempted to storm the building but were repelled by security forces using tear gas, according to AFP journalists on the scene.
The government had already expressed disagreement last week with several aspects of the reform, arguing it was being pursued without consultation with political stakeholders. The constitutional amendment now faces criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations as it moves toward a national referendum that will determine whether Senegal’s balance of power is reshaped.
Source: AFP