Senegal’s Constitutional Council on Thursday, July 9, rejected a bill passed by the National Assembly seeking to overhaul the balance of power between the executive and Parliament, ruling that it was “contrary to the Constitution.”
The Council cited several constitutional violations, including breaches of Articles 82 and 103, among others. It also criticized provisions to increase the human, material and financial resources of the proposed Constitutional Court without identifying corresponding sources of funding.
The court further faulted National Assembly Speaker Ousmane Sonko for refusing to allow the executive’s request to use the “blocked vote” procedure, which enables a bill to be passed without amendments.
The proposed reform, introduced by Sonko’s Pastef party, sought to amend 29 articles of the Constitution. The changes would have barred the President from leading a political party, expanded the powers of parliament and the Prime Minister, replaced the Constitutional Council with a nine-member Constitutional Court, and limited presidential powers to dissolve parliament.
The ruling is considered a setback for Sonko and Pastef but a political boost for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who can either submit a revised version of the reforms to a referendum or abandon the process. The President’s Diomaye coalition said Faye would continue consultations on reforms aimed at strengthening Senegal’s democracy.