The president of Senegal has filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Council, arguing that a proposed constitutional reform is unconstitutional.
According to sources, the petition, which was submitted on the same day to the Constitutional Council’s registry, also requests that the council make its decision within the timeframe stipulated by the law governing this institution.
The Constitutional Council is now required to rule on the admissibility and legitimacy of the lawsuit, in accordance with existing regulations.
A constitutional reform, adopted by the National Assembly in June, which was initiated by the Senegalese Patriotic Party for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef), a majority party in Parliament, aims to rebalance relations between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, strengthen the powers of the National Assembly, and establish a Constitutional Court in place of the Constitutional Council.
The reform text modifies over 30 articles of the Constitution, introduces incompatibility between holding the office of President of the Republic and leading a political party, and grants new prerogatives to Parliament, including the ability to adopt resolutions.