Sénégal politics: FDR demands Ousmane Sonko’s removal from parliament

The Front for the Defense of the Republic (FDR) has issued a bold statement calling for the immediate removal of Ousmane Sonko from his seat in the National Assembly. The coalition, led by Khalifa Sall, has labeled his continued presence in parliament as both illegal and illegitimate.

In their strongly worded declaration, the FDR highlighted the collective efforts of 147 political parties and movements that joined forces on May 24 to denounce what they describe as a parliamentary coup attempt orchestrated by the PASTEF party. The coalition also praised opposition lawmakers for taking the matter to the Constitutional Council, seeking legal validation of their claims.

The FDR’s push for Sonko’s expulsion is rooted in a legal argument centered on Article LO172 of the Electoral Code. This provision states that a minister who wins a parliamentary seat must resign from the government within eight days or forfeit their mandate. The coalition argues that PASTEF attempted to bypass this rule by altering the Assembly’s internal regulations, a move they argue is both unconstitutional and void.

Breaking down their objections, the FDR points to two critical violations: First, Article 54 of the Constitution mandates that any changes to the Electoral Code must be enacted through an organic law, not hidden within internal procedural rules. Second, the modification introduced a category of ‘deputy substitutes’—a concept not recognized under Senegalese law outside of proportional and majority departmental elections. The FDR contends that PASTEF’s actions undermined not only the Constitution and the Electoral Code but also the Assembly’s own regulations, which are strictly limited to internal governance.

The coalition is now urging all stakeholders in the nation to rally behind a strategic action plan to uphold the rule of law and restore constitutional order.