Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye Thursday announced the dissolution of the national assembly, citing continued political deadlock.
He has called a legislative election for 17 November 2024, asking the people to choose a new representatives in line with the reforms promised when he was elected in March.
The move comes after several months of tension between the executive and the parliamentary majority, particularly over issues of economic and institutional reform.
”I have come to the conclusion that the prospect of open cooperation with the parliamentary majority in the exclusive interest of the Senegalese people was an illusion. This majority has chosen to distance itself from the people in order to promote a culture of stalemate” the president declared in his speech. He justified his decision by invoking the provisions of Article 87 of the Senegalese constitution, which gives him the power to dissolve the assembly.
The head of state was particularly critical of the parliament’s refusal to fulfil his electoral promises, in particular the abolition of the High Council of Municipalities (HCCT) and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), two institutions he considered “superfluous” in view of the country’s economic situation. According to him, ‘the state of public finances requires a rationalisation of public spending’.
President Faye also denounced the cancellation of the budget orientation debate scheduled for 29 June, a legal obligation that the majority had not respected. This violation of a legal obligation laid down in Article 56 of the Organic Law on the Finance Act has contributed to tarnishing Senegal’s image in the eyes of international institutions,’ he said.
Before announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly, Bassirou Diomaye Faye said he had consulted the Constitutional Council, the Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly. By virtue of the powers conferred on me by the Constitution, I have decided to dissolve the National Assembly and to set Sunday 17 November 2024 as the date for legislative elections,” he said.
In his speech, the President called on the Senegalese people to vote again on the composition of the National Assembly and to elect a new representative who, he said, would be more in line with ‘the deep desire for change expressed on the evening of 24 March 2024’ during the presidential election.
Article 3 of our constitution states that national sovereignty belongs to the people. It is therefore time for the Senegalese people to decide whether the Assembly should play its role or continue to embody the deadlock of a failing regime,’ said the Senegalese head of state.
AC/sf/lb/as/APA