The Constitutional Council, by a decision rendered on September 25, 2024, rejected the request of the Alliance for Transparency in Elections (Atel) to annul the decree convening the electoral college for the early legislative elections on Sunday, November 17. However, Atel is not discouraged. It hopes to be heard by the Supreme Court and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

The Alliance for Transparency in Elections (Atel) did not win its case with the 7 « Sages ». Yesterday, the election judges rejected the argument raised by these members of the opposition. The latter wanted to obtain from the Constitutional Council the cancellation of the electoral process. This, after the decree issued by the President of the Republic convening the electoral college for the early legislative elections of November 17, after having dissolved the National Assembly. This presidential decision is a violation of the Electoral Code, in the eyes of the members of this opposition platform which brings together 113 political parties, movements and personalities.

Legislative Elections: Preparations in a Flux

« The President’s incompetence to deviate from the Electoral Code, when he has not been authorized to do so by the National Assembly, » is one of the grievances raised with the courts that the Atel representatives have invoked. For these members of this new pole, it is a question of recalling that « the President of the Republic cannot modify the law. » Indeed, the opposition believes that the Head of State cannot issue the word « by derogation. » In this case, he takes measures that he does not have the power to do. The Alliance for Transparency in Elections argued that it cannot continue a process with « an illegal decree. »

Dead at 103 years: Mbow, A Life to Celebrate

Atel had also noted the lack of transparency in the management of the electoral process, especially through the failure to promptly publish the opinion of the Constitutional Council regarding the referral to the court by the Head of State. The opposition, however, remains hopeful about the outcome of its appeals to other courts including the ECOWAS Court of Justice. The structure is maintaining the large gathering that it plans to organize today at the Place de la Nation.

By Mamadou T. DIATTA / mdiatta@lequotidien.sn 

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH