DAKAR, Senegal (AP) 鈥� top judicial body rejected a constitutional amendment aimed at expanding the role of parliament and reducing presidential powers.
The new law was but the government said it would be put to a referendum. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had challenged the legality of the procedure and requested an emergency review at the Constitutional Council.
The council on Thursday evening ruled the law was unconstitutional, effectively halting one of the parliamentary majority鈥檚 cornerstone projects.
The debate over constitutional reform comes as political tensions have risen between Ousmane Sonko.
Sonko was dismissed and earlier this year. Their alliance, which had brought them to power in March 2024, gradually disintegrated. A new prime minister has since been appointed, and the formation of a new government is expected.
The opposition views the initiative, proposed by Pastef, Sonko鈥檚 party, as political revenge by the former prime minister, who retains significant influence over the parliamentary majority.
The reform would strengthen parliament鈥檚 powers, replace the Constitutional Council with a new Constitutional Court and impose stricter controls on the president鈥檚 power to dissolve the National Assembly.
Sonko welcomed the decision by the council, saying it is binding. “This cycle reminds us that in a democracy, when institutions play their role, each within its sphere of influence, no crisis can arise,” he said.
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