The Constitutional Court of Senegal confirmed on Wednesday that the presidential election, after multiple delays, will finally be held on March 24. This announcement brings to an end a period of confusion and unrest as the National Dialogue Commission had previously proposed, and Parliament had attempted to implement, a postponement of this crucial exercise of democracy.
In an unexpected turn of events last month, the parliament had voted to postpone the election to December on a bill submitted by President Macky Sall. This move, which would significantly delay the election initially slated for February 25, led to widespread protests. However, this parliamentary action was subsequently struck down by the Constitutional Court for its unconstitutionality.
The court had previously called upon the Senegalese authorities to set a date for the election as soon as possible. In response, the National Dialogue Commission proposed a date of June 2. However, this was beyond the constitutionally mandated end of Sall’s presidency. In its rulings, the court stipulated that elections must be held before President Sall’s term officially ends on April 2, thereby overturning the proposed June 2 date. The court was driven by the need to avoid creating an institutional vacuum, which, it remarked, the Constitution does not provide for. To that end, Article 36 of the Senegalese Constitution obligates the incumbent president to remain in office until a successor is elected.
Furthermore, the Constitutional Court ruled that regardless of political circumstances, the duration of the president’s mandate could not be reduced or extended. With the presidential election now set to take place on March 24, it was also confirmed that President Sall has made this new date known to the Council of Ministers.