In a bold shift from his earlier stance, Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly, has openly criticized the constitutional review process and the decisions of the ‘seven Wise Men’ during a high-profile event in Touba. Speaking at the inauguration of the Pastef-Touba headquarters and a subsequent political discussion, Sonko took a firm stand against the Constitutional Council’s recent invalidation of the constitutional amendment bill.
The leader of Pastef, who initially called for respecting the court’s decision, now questions the very foundation of the ruling. He argued that the Council’s reasoning was flawed, particularly its claim that lawmakers must draft laws solely to the President’s liking. ‘The Constitutional Council cannot dictate that deputies should pass laws that please the President,’ Sonko declared, rejecting the procedural grounds cited by the judges—namely, the lack of compensatory funds for new public positions and the bypassing of the blocked vote procedure.
Sonko’s remarks signal a sharp escalation in his public rhetoric, marking a departure from his earlier calls for institutional calm. His comments follow the President’s repeated referrals of contentious bills to the Council, which Sonko described as a systematic tactic to undermine parliamentary authority. ‘Every week, the President refers matters to the Constitutional Council,’ he asserted, framing it as an abuse of judicial oversight.
This uncompromising stance comes as Pastef’s ongoing tour in the Baol region takes on a more confrontational tone. Initially framed as a grassroots engagement initiative, the tour now appears to serve as a counter-move against the President’s recent political maneuvering, including meetings with hundreds of mayors and the announcement of a new political party.
With tensions rising between the legislative and executive branches, Sonko’s words underscore the deepening rift over governance and constitutional interpretation in Senegal.
