Guy Marius Sagna questions Minister Diomaye Faye on Article 37 amendment
The amendment of Article 37 of the Constitution continues to be debated in the National Assembly. Initially proposed by Deputy Amadou Ba, the reform primarily concerns rules for asset declarations by key state officials. The government introduced an amendment to extend this obligation to the Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly, requiring declarations upon entering and leaving office. Deputy Guy Marius Sagna is not convinced by this extension, arguing that Article 37, which is part of Title III of the Constitution dedicated to the President of the Republic, should not be broadened to include other institutions. He believes this change could symbolically "demean" the presidential function. During a plenary session, the parliamentarian directly questioned the Minister of Justice about the scope of the government's amendment, emphasizing the need to clearly establish the Executive's responsibility for this constitutional modification. Sagna stated, "Diomaye is there for governance. Let him bear the consequences." He specifically requested that the governmental origin of the amendment be explicitly noted in parliamentary records to prevent future generations from solely blaming Pastef deputies for the change. This controversy extends beyond asset declarations, highlighting a broader debate on the balance of powers, the President's role in the constitutional framework, and the political accountability of those modifying the fundamental law.
