The President’s legal counsel has initiated an urgent appeal, formally requesting the Constitutional Council to issue a ruling within the statutory timeframe stipulated by the organic law governing this crucial institution.
This petition, officially registered on the same day at the Constitutional Council’s registry, includes extensive documentation pertaining to the review and adoption process of the proposed constitutional bill. These accompanying materials originate from the Presidency of the Republic, the National Assembly, and the government.
The Constitutional Council is now tasked with assessing both the admissibility and the fundamental merits of this appeal, in strict adherence to the country’s prevailing legal provisions.
The constitutional reform, approved by the National Assembly in late June and spearheaded by the majority party, Pastef (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité), introduces several significant changes. Key provisions include a rebalancing of powers between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, an enhancement of the National Assembly’s prerogatives, and the establishment of a new Constitutional Court to supersede the existing Constitutional Council.
This legislative text revises more than thirty articles within the Constitution. It specifically mandates the incompatibility of holding both the office of President of the Republic and the leadership of a political party. Furthermore, it grants new powers to the Parliament, notably empowering it to adopt formal resolutions.
