Ousmane Sonko slams political maneuvers against his parliamentary seat

The president of PASTEF, Ousmane Sonko, has responded to the legal action initiated by opposition and non-aligned deputies aimed at overturning his reinstatement to the National Assembly. The leader of the parliamentary majority views this petition to the Constitutional Council as a deliberate political strategy meant to hinder his progress.

During a press briefing, he criticized what he described as calculated schemes by his opponents. “They are engaged in plots and machinations. This appeal to the Constitutional Council is part of that same logic. Those who filed it are well aware that this matter does not fall within the Council’s jurisdiction,” he declared.

The former Prime Minister also used the occasion to caution his adversaries against the blatant exploitation of state institutions for narrow political interests.

At the heart of this legal battle, the petitioners are citing Article 54 of the Constitution to demand the cancellation of his parliamentary mandate. This follows an announcement by a group of lawmakers regarding their referral to the high court to strike down the May 24 decision by the National Assembly Bureau, which had confirmed Ousmane Sonko‘s status as a deputy.

The opposing deputies contend that the reinstatement violates the Constitution, claiming that Ousmane Sonko faced a conflict of incompatibility from the moment of his election, given his appointment as Prime Minister and his 2024 election as a deputy. In response to this legal offensive, Ousmane Sonko issued a resolute warning: “If they utilize the power of the state to fight us, we will use every legal resource granted by the Constitution to stand our ground.”