Senegalese MPs Accuse President Faye of Abandoning Referendum Pledge

Members of the PASTEF party in Senegal have accused President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of reneging on his commitment to hold a referendum on constitutional revisions. The deputies claim that President Faye is opting to bypass a public vote, instead choosing to proceed through the Constitutional Council. This decision, according to the accusers, represents a departure from his electoral promises and a potential shift in the process of amending the nation's constitution. The PASTEF deputies express concern that this approach may undermine democratic participation in significant constitutional changes. They argue that a referendum would have provided a more direct avenue for citizens to voice their opinions on the proposed amendments. The specific nature of the constitutional revisions has not been detailed, nor has the exact reasoning behind the President's alleged change in strategy been publicly elaborated by his office. This development raises questions about the future direction of constitutional reform in Senegal and the balance between executive decision-making and popular sovereignty.