Ousmane Sonko intervenes in National Assembly constitutional revision debate, countering Justice Minister's procedural strategy

The debate centered on Justice Minister Me Moussa Sarr and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Me Moussa Sarr presented arguments based on articles 82 and 103 of the Constitution, defending the reform project initiated by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and advocating for a referendum. He also highlighted the constitutional inadmissibility exception, citing new public charges that could arise from certain parliamentary amendments, such as the creation of a single body for election management, which he argued would lead to uncompensated public expenditure, referencing the jurisprudence of Senegal's Constitutional Council.

The procedural aspect of the debate shifted when Me Moussa Sarr sought to apply a blocked vote mechanism, under article 82, paragraph 4, to force a single vote on the entire text, including only government-accepted amendments. However, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko intervened, clarifying that the blocked vote applies only to bills, not proposed laws. This clarification undermined Me Moussa Sarr's procedural strategy and was seen as a direct institutional re-framing of the debate, recentering it on strict parliamentary procedures and neutralizing attempts by the executive to control the vote.

This exchange highlighted Ousmane Sonko's ability to assert authority o