Yesterday’s big announcement by the Head of State puts at the heart of the functioning of the national democratic system the intangibility of the number of terms of office. This entails an objective limit that should not be challenged by his successor at the head of state or by those who will later be called upon to lead the country. Thus, the eternity clause concerning the number of presidential terms is taking shape.By Mamadou T. DIATTA –

Big surprise! Hauteur. Height. Sense of state. Safeguarding the common will to live together… There was no shortage of superlatives yesterday. All to rightly qualify the choice of President Macky Sall.

The Head of State’s decision will be engraved like marble in the country’s great history book. It paves the way for the effective advent of the eternity clause. The constitutional provisions on the number of terms of office can no longer be called into question. This maintains the country’s rank and status as a great democracy.

Yesterday’s act also opens a new cycle for the office of President. Nothing less will be expected of his successor and those who may later preside over the country’s destinies. The People will be more demanding on this issue. Yesterday’s decision shows the extent to which Senegal has amazed and continues to amaze the world. After the two alternations in 2000 and 2012, here is Macky’s Sall decision, which reinforces the image and credibility of the country.

The great and surprising announcement by the President of the Republic has the particularity of soothing souls and consciences. After the series of acts of violence that have marred the country’s progress in recent times. After the tears, divisions, political posturing and merciless battles that have punctuated our daily lives since the controversy over the 3rd mandate took shape. It dispels the haunts of fear and enables the advocates of peace to win their bet. But it also contributes, to a large extent, to establishing peaceful coexistence between our fellow citizens.

This state of mind, in which the country has been immersed since yesterday, can even be seen in the crowd bath that the Head of State was treated to after his announcement, when he went to meet the crowd, who stormed the gates of the Palace of the Republic chanting « Macky jerejeff ».

mdiatta@lequotidien.sn