Members of Senegal’s National Assembly have adopted a controversial constitutional amendment that expands the role of parliament and reduces presidential powers. The reform, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers, will be put to a referendum, according to the government and the justice minister.
The move comes amid rising political tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, the former prime minister and current president of the National Assembly. The initiative was proposed by Sonko’s party, Pastef. Opposition parties and civil society organizations view the changes as political revenge, warning that the amendment could upset the balance of power in government.
The proposed changes include requiring the government to inform the legislature of agreements regarding the exploitation of natural resources and expanding the powers of parliamentary inquiry committees. Additionally, the text proposes replacing the seven-member Constitutional Council with a nine-member Constitutional Court. Other restrictions include prohibiting the head of state from leading a political party, limiting executive decisions between the presidential election and the official results, and placing stricter controls on the president’s power to dissolve the National Assembly.
The legislative session was marked by unrest as demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building, chanting "Hands off my Constitution!" and attempting to storm the building. Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the protesters and detained several activists and opposition leaders.