The Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) has issued a firm demand for the removal of Ousmane Sonko from the National Assembly, asserting that his current status is both “illegal and illegitimate.” This contentious call has sparked considerable reaction within the political class, reigniting a crucial debate surrounding the constitutional legitimacy of the Prime Minister’s parliamentary mandate.
In a formal statement released on June 3, 2026, the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) explicitly called for Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s exclusion from the National Assembly. The coalition argues that his reinstatement into the legislative body directly contravenes existing legal provisions.
The FDR’s communiqué states unequivocally that the leader of PASTEF holds an “illegal and illegitimate” position. It maintains that current regulations do not permit him to simultaneously serve as a deputy while retaining his executive office.
Political mobilization against alleged ‘parliamentary coup’
The opposition coalition expressed its satisfaction with the widespread mobilization of various political parties and movements, all standing against what it characterizes as an “attempted parliamentary coup.” The FDR also praised opposition deputies for their proactive measure in referring the matter to the Constitutional Council.
The FDR highlights that Article LO172 of the Electoral Code mandates that any minister elected as a deputy must relinquish their parliamentary mandate if they do not resign from the government within an eight-day timeframe. Furthermore, the coalition contends that any modifications made to the National Assembly’s internal rules cannot, under any circumstances, override the nation’s established constitutional and legislative provisions.
From the FDR’s perspective, the procedural steps that facilitated Ousmane Sonko’s return to the National Assembly constitute a clear violation of the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and the very internal regulations governing the parliamentary institution.
Consequently, the coalition calls for the “illegal act of the Assembly” to be rescinded and demands the immediate removal of the Prime Minister from the National Assembly.
The FDR further urges the nation’s vital forces to rally and actively defend, in its words, the sanctity of the Constitution, the laws, and the institutions of the Republic.
This significant declaration comes as the legal and political discourse surrounding Ousmane Sonko’s dual parliamentary status continues to be a central and highly debated topic across the Senegalese political landscape.