On September 1st, the head of government is scheduled to present his General Policy Statement before the deputies. This appearance follows the recent declaration that their legislative proposal concerning special funds was inadmissible. The question looms: will he face a motion of censure, or is such a move politically unviable for the opposition? The coming weeks and months are expected to be characterized by intense political maneuvering from all sides. In this intricate landscape, Ousmane Sonko appears to maintain a strong position, closely observed by the populace.

A Pyrrhic victory for the government

The dynamic interplay between the executive and legislative branches, often mediated by the Constitutional Council, continues unabated. The latest development saw the Council’s ‘Seven Sages’ issue decision n°7/C/2026, which deemed the proposed law regulating special appropriations as inadmissible. This ruling was not unexpected, given that the reasons for its potential rejection had been publicly articulated by numerous informed individuals, including the head of government, who had previously asserted that it encroached upon the executive’s inherent regulatory domain.

Essentially, the Constitutional Council’s pronouncement aligned with these earlier arguments. However, beyond the strictly legalistic aspects, which are likely to continue evolving, the true impact of this decision will be felt in the political arena. In this ongoing political contest, Ousmane Sonko appears to hold a significant advantage, with the public keenly observing every move.

This marks another triumph for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration: the Constitutional Council’s decision n°7/C/2026 declared the bill on special funds, introduced by Guy Marius Sagna, to be inadmissible. Yet, this can be characterized as a Pyrrhic victory. The political advantage gained from this rejection was swiftly capitalized upon by Pastef, Ousmane Sonko’s party, which immediately released a statement decrying the government’s perceived abandonment of its promises regarding…