Ousmane Sonko, president of the National Assembly, has called on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to sign into law the constitutional revision adopted by a qualified majority of deputies on Monday. According to Sonko, the head of state cannot pick and choose which constitutional provisions suit him, nor can he submit the text to a referendum, because in his interpretation a vote by three-fifths of the Assembly constitutes both adoption and approval.

Speaking after the reform was passed, Sonko reminded that “the constituent power” belongs to the National Assembly when it is convened. He argued that the president’s referral to the Constitutional Council was unjustified and stated that the high court had already ruled on the procedure applicable to constitutional revisions adopted by Parliament.

The National Assembly president also criticised Faye’s stance on several provisions of the reform, in particular the requirement for the president to declare his assets at the start and end of his term, and the ban on leading a political party while in office. Sonko recalled that these commitments had been defended by the current president when he was in opposition.

Describing the reform as “one of the most consolidating” for Senegalese democracy, Sonko argued that it will strengthen transparency in public management while reducing the cost of democratic functioning. He finally urged the president to reconsider his position and promulgate the law, saying a referendum on these provisions would be unnecessary.