President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has called for the population’s wishes to be taken into account following the rejection of his draft constitutional revision that would have allowed for a “systematic rationalisation of public charges,” could dissolve the National Assembly on 12 September after two years of the current legislature.
Senegal’s National Assembly refused on Monday to respond positively to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s request to abolish the High Council of Territorial Communities (HCCT) and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE).
The parliamentary majority, made up of MPs from the former ruling coalition Benno Bokk Yakaar, rejected the bill by 83 votes to 80.
According to the Head of State, this position goes against the will of the majority of the Senegalese people, as expressed in the presidential elections of 24 March.
The rejection of the bill to revise the Constitution and dissolve the HCCT and the CESE is sufficient proof, if any were needed, of the deep gulf between the members of the majority and the aspirations of the people, which were overwhelmingly expressed in the presidential election of 24 March 2024,’ President Faye said on Tuesday in a statement signed by presidential spokesman Ousseynou Ly.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has been in office for five months, ‘takes note of the decision of the majority of deputies and reaffirms his commitment to work for the expression of pluralist political positions, which are essential for democracy and the balance of power’.
However, the 44-year-old leader reiterated that this bill was part of the “firm commitments sovereignly validated by the people.”
The abolition of these two institutions, which cost the state budget around fifteen billion CFA francs a year, would allow a systematic rationalisation of public charges’, he seemed to regret.
He does, however, have the option of dissolving parliament on 12 September, two years into the fourteenth legislature, in order to form a parliamentary majority.
President Faye cited as an example the recent abolition of the National Commission for Territorial Dialogue by decree, which did not require the approval of the National Assembly.
Despite this “slap in the face,” he promised to continue on the path of rationalising public spending, in line with the “doctrine of transforming public governance as part of the Project for the systemic transformation of Senegal” launched by the new administration.
