The false suspense ended on Thursday, September 12 at 8 p.m. In a speech broadcast on national television, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for early legislative elections on November 17. “I dissolve the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means that allow me to give substance to the systemic transformation that I promised them”he declared in a brief speech.
The announcement of this dissolution is not a surprise. At the end of August, the Constitutional Council recalled that the dissolution of the National Assembly could legally be pronounced by the president as of September 12, i.e. two years after the beginning of the 14th legislative session, on September 12, 2022.
Lacking a majority in parliament, still dominated by MPs loyal to former President Macky Sall, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected on 24 March with 54% of the vote, did not have all the institutional levers to implement his programme of rupture. His party, Pastef (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity) had only 23 MPs out of 165 (and around forty, including its allies in the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition).
“The cult of the blockade”
In recent weeks, differences between the government and the opposition have blocked government action. At the end of June, MPs from Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY), the coalition supporting Macky Sall, boycotted the budget orientation debate, causing it to be cancelled. Last week, the proposal to abolish the High Council of Local Authorities (HCCT) and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), was heard “budget hogs” by the authorities, was rejected en bloc by opposition deputies. “The guarantee of frank collaboration with the parliamentary majority was an illusion, since the latter had decided to maintain the cult of blockade”he lashed out at the president in his speech.
Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister and leader of Pastef, has also faced several threats of a vote of no confidence, one of which was presented by the camp of the old regime. His general policy statement (GPS), which he was due to present this Friday, September 13, to the National Assembly, was automatically revoked by the dissolution. A moment that raises questions within the opposition.
If the deputies maintain their status until the next legislative elections, they will no longer be able to meet, either in ordinary or extraordinary sessions. “The announcement of this dissolution on September 12, on the eve of Ousmane Sonko’s DPG, is not a coincidence. It is a maneuver to prevent a vote of no confidence and save the Prime Minister”analyzes Alassane Ndao, professor-researcher at the Gaston-Berger University of Saint-Louis. “This dissolution is a good thing. We have about 80 bills already drafted that are waiting for a new Assembly to vote on them.”“The president and his party will still have to win these legislative elections to obtain, as they hope, a qualified majority,” said an outgoing deputy from Pastef.
“A race against time”
“It is vital for Pastefcontinues Alassane Ndao. If they do not obtain a majority, the rest of the mandate risks becoming complicated. Many of their promises are based on constitutional reforms that require the approval of three-fifths of the National Assembly, or 99 deputies.
“A race against time has begun, but we are prepared”says Ibrahima Diallo, director of communications for Pastef. According to several sources consulted by The worldPrime Minister (and party president) Ousmane Sonko is expected to be appointed head of the national list (there are also departmental lists) and be heavily involved in the campaign. As a prelude, on 7 September he went to Matam in the north of the country, a historic stronghold of Macky Sall, to promise to transform the region into a future economic centre.
Despite an overwhelming victory in the first round of the presidential elections in March, Pastef is expected to present coalition lists.. “The Senegalese legislative elections are very particular, mixing proportional and majoritarian systemsexplains Moussa Diaw, professor emeritus of political science. Parties are forced to form coalitions if they want a tangible majority. »
The opposition, meanwhile, appears to have weakened since the last presidential election. On September 3, former President Macky Sall announced the dissolution of the ABY coalition, which brought him to power in 2012 and supported him during his two terms in office. His former prime minister and failed presidential candidate, Amadou Ba, created his own party 72 hours ago. “They are not prepared and are still looking for a leader while elections are imminent”Moussa Diaw observes.
“The ABY coalition must reinvent itself and expand to other political and citizen forces,” “This is a very important step forward for the party,” said Adji Mergane Kanouté, vice-president of the dissolved ABY parliamentary group, adding that Amadou Ba’s new party will not be excluded. “We are still in discussion. We must do everything possible to have a majority, win or, failing that, impose coexistence.” she concludes.
