News:
November 4, 2024
In what seems to be the order of the day, Presidents within French speaking West Africa and Lusophones, have developed the penchant for dissolving their Parliaments.
Speaking on the situation in Senegal, Chairman of the Committee on political affairs in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Edwin Malvin Snowe Jr. says per the Senegal constitution, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye acted within the confines of the Constitution.
He further pointed out that the Senegalese constitution calls for dissolution of the parliament by the President within the period of one year, so he acted within the confines of the constitution calling for fresh election which is November 17, 2024.
“Yes, it has its own financial implication on the Country but that is what the constitution calls for. In Senegal, like I said, it is by the constitution and I wish them peaceful Parliamentary elections because the constitution calls for it and I think there were some legislations that the president felt that his legislative agenda was being challenged and did not have the majority there, so he calls for fresh elections”.
In an interview, he noted that, now if this election is conducted and he still has the Minority, he cannot call for fresh election. The next day he has to give it that constitutional lifespan.
“You know again, each country has its own constitution and their issues are different. You just have a major issue in Ghana that we followed, for example where we taught the ruling party has lost the Majority in Parliament but the Supreme Court said no and it’s the highest court in the land so each country has its own style, laws and practices”
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghaanamps.com