Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – In a closely contested vote, the Senegalese Parliament has rejected a bill from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko that sought to amend the Constitution to disband the High Council of Territorial Communities (HCCT) and the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE). The bill was defeated by a narrow margin of 83 votes to 80, confirming the decision of the law committee during the plenary session.

The executive proposal to eliminate these two institutions had ignited significant debate within the Assembly. Proponents of the bill argued that disbanding the HCCT and CESE would streamline government operations and reduce costs. However, opponents warned that such a move would eliminate vital platforms for the representation of local communities and various socio-economic sectors in state decision-making processes.

The HCCT and CESE are central to Senegal’s institutional framework, with the former serving as an advisory body on local governance and territorial development, while the latter provides counsel on economic, social, and environmental issues. Their preservation ensures that diverse voices continue to be heard in the corridors of power.

In the wake of this legislative defeat, the opposition majority in the National Assembly has vowed to intensify its efforts to block President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s potential move to dissolve the parliament. The President has already received a favorable opinion from the Constitutional Council regarding such a dissolution, heightening tensions within the political landscape.

In response, the ruling Benno Bokk Yaakaar (BBY) coalition, which holds a slim majority with 81 deputies, swiftly announced its intention to table a motion of censure against the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. “As of tomorrow, our parliamentary group will table a motion of censure to bring down the government,” declared Abdou Mbow, the majority leader of BBY, shortly after the rejection of the disbanding bill.

“I would like to emphasize the violation of the constitution by the Prime Minister, who refused to make his general policy declaration and did not respect the institutions we represent. This is a government embroiled in scandals. After making these observations, the first thing tomorrow, with my group, I will table a motion of censure to bring down the government,” Abdou Mbow stated.

The motion of censure, to be tabled tomorrow, must gain the support of a majority of deputies for the government to be effectively overthrown. However, Abdou Mbow expressed confidence in the opposition’s ability to rally enough parliamentarians to bring this approach to fruition.

This development marks a significant escalation in Senegal’s political dynamics, as the opposition and ruling parties brace for what could become a decisive confrontation over the future of the National Assembly and the broader governance of the country.