Rédaction Africa Links 24 with La rédaction
Published on 2024-03-06 22:26:04
The Constitutional Council of the Republic of Senegal, after deliberation and in accordance with the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and the organic law relating to the Constitutional Council, ruled on the requests of several presidential candidates asking for a date to be set for the presidential election.
Candidates such as Hadji Mamadou DIAO, Boubacar CAMARA, Thierno Alassane SALL, Habib SY, Serigne MBOUP, Déthié FALL, Malick GAKOU, Khalifa Ababacar SALL, Aly Ngouille NDIAYE, Daouda NDIAYE, Mamadou Lamine DIALLO, Anta Babacar NGOM, Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, and Aliou Mamadou DIA, invoked the President’s failure to set the election date, despite a previous decision by the Council. This situation created an urgent need, especially as the end of the presidential term was approaching without a date being set, thus violating constitutional and electoral directives.
The Council deemed the candidates’ requests admissible, recognizing their legitimate interest in seeking the Council’s intervention to ensure the holding of the election within the constitutional deadlines. In response, the Council ordered the consolidation of the requests for a unified decision, emphasizing the principle of good administration of justice.
Fundamentally, the requests primarily concerned the setting of the presidential election date and the continuation of electoral operations. The applicants argued that the President’s inaction in this matter constituted a violation of the Council’s directives. The Council recalled that according to the Electoral Code, the date of the election is normally set by presidential decree, but exceptional circumstances required direct intervention by the Council to ensure constitutional continuity and institutional stability.
As a result, the Council decided to set the date of the presidential election for March 31, 2024, thereby allowing the continuation of the interrupted electoral process. This decision includes the summoning of the electoral body, both in Senegal and abroad, for that date.
Furthermore, the Council addressed the issue of the acting President’s role if the election results are not declared before April 2, 2024. It ruled that the acting President should remain in office until the installation of their successor, and in the event of a vacancy in the presidential function, the President of the National Assembly would ensure the continuity of the electoral process.
This historic decision by the Constitutional Council falls within the framework of its regulatory power in electoral matters and its commitment to maintaining the continuity of the State and the stability of institutions. It will be published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Senegal.
Read the original article(French) on Senegal Direct
