Responding to his detractors following the exclusion of candidate Karim Wade from the presidential race, Thierno Alassane Sall said he got involved “in politics out of conviction and not for calculations against the principles, laws and the general interest”. The candidate for the presidential election and leader of the Republic of Values party insists that “the Republic and respect for its Fundamental Law will always remain (his) compass”.

The candidate for the presidential election, Thierno Alassane Sall, reacted to comments denouncing the appeal which ousted Karim Wade from the list of candidates for the presidential election. “What legitimacy remains for a man, who aspires to lead his country, if he becomes an accomplice in the violation of the Constitution for fear of insinuations from people of so little virtue that they can do it again in perjury or defend such crimes?” asked the leader of the Republic of Values party. Before candidate Thierno Alassane Sall added that he was involved “in politics out of conviction and not for calculations against principles, laws and the general interest”.

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Thus, Thierno Alassane Sall recalled that he is a “republican, opponent and party leader in that order. The Republic and respect for its Fundamental Law will always remain my compass. No arrangement will make me change my mind on this point.”  For him, “corruption is endemic”. To this end, “our funds are misappropriated. Life is extremely expensive. The emergency is everywhere! This is where we must place the focus of public debate. We invite all patriots and republicans to come together and co-build a new country morally and economically.”

Thierno Alassane Sall filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council to contest the validity of the candidacy of Karim Wade, candidate of the “Karim 2024” Coalition, even though the latter had filed, in December 2023, in his candidacy file, a declaration on his honour which indicated that Wade-son had submitted a request to the French authorities to renounce his French nationality.

The publication by the new French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, on January 16, 2024, announcing the forfeiture of Karim Wade’s French nationality could not save the latter’s candidacy.  The Constitutional Council finally invalidated, on Saturday January 20, 2024, the candidacy of the former “minister of heaven and earth” under the reign of Lawyer Abdoulaye Wade, pushing the members and officials of the Senegalese Democratic Party (Pds) and those of the “Karim 2024” Coalition to accuse the 7 “Wise Men” of having committed an “electoral coup d’état”. Before announcing the seizure of the ECOWAS Court of Justice to restore Karim Wade’s rights.

By Malick GAYE / mgaye@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH