The Front for the Defense of the Republic (FDR) has issued a formal statement calling for the expulsion of Ousmane Sonko from the National Assembly. The coalition, led by Khalifa Sall, has declared his continued presence in the legislature as both illegal and illegitimate.

In their announcement, the FDR highlighted the collective stance of 147 political parties and movements that united on May 24 to denounce what they describe as a parliamentary coup attempt by the PASTEF party. The coalition also praised opposition lawmakers for filing a constitutional challenge to address the situation.

legal arguments against sonko’s mandate

The FDR’s position rests on Article LO172 of the Electoral Code, which mandates that a minister elected as a deputy must resign from their government position within eight days. The coalition argues that PASTEF attempted to bypass this requirement by amending the Assembly’s internal regulations. However, the FDR contends that this move is unconstitutional for two key reasons:

• Violation of constitutional procedures: Article 54 of the Constitution requires any such adjustment to be formalized through an organic law in the Electoral Code, not hidden within internal Assembly rules.
• Introduction of unrecognized parliamentary roles: The amended regulations created a new category called “deputy substitutes,” a concept not recognized in Senegalese law outside of departmental and proportional elections.

The FDR further argues that PASTEF has simultaneously breached the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and the Assembly’s internal regulations—whose sole purpose, per Article 1, is to govern the institution’s internal operations.

a call to action

Urging nationwide mobilization, the FDR is rallying citizens and civil society groups to join forces in a comprehensive action plan aimed at upholding the Republic’s laws. The coalition emphasizes the need for unity among the nation’s stakeholders to prevent what it sees as an erosion of democratic principles.