In Senegal, the Constitutional Council declared unconstitutional the law postponing presidential elections to December 15, 2024 and annulled President Macky Sall's decree annulling the February 25 elections.
Published on: February 15, 2024 – 9:35 p.m
1 minute
With our correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
It is a historic decision, as the postponement of the presidential elections is the trigger of a major and unprecedented political crisis Senegal. This Thursday, the Constitutional Council decided and judged the law that postpones the presidential election to December 15th to be unconstitutional. In the same decision, he repealed the presidential decree Macky Sall with which the convening of the electoral body for February 25th was canceled.
For what ? The Council of Wise Men bases its decision on the principle of legal certainty, Article 103, which states that no one can change the number and duration of the presidential mandate. According to him, the postponement of the presidential election violates this intangible article of the Constitution, which determines the number and duration of the presidential term.
Postponing the presidential election to December 15th would clearly allow the president to remain in power beyond his term, which ends on April 2nd. An impossible fact, according to the Constitutional Council, due to this ban.
When will the Senegalese elect their future president? Regarding the date, the Council further reiterates that a vote will no longer be possible on February 25th. He therefore calls on the relevant authorities to organize this election as soon as possible.
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