PASTEF demands territorial election process and challenges credit reforms in Senegal

The ruling PASTEF-Les Patriotes party in Senegal has initiated two major political challenges against the government and the current administration's handling of legal and financial reforms.

First, the party has formally petitioned the Minister of the Interior and the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) to trigger the territorial election process. Citing the electoral code, PASTEF argues that local council mandates, elected in January 2022, must be renewed by January 17, 2027, at the latest. The party expressed concern over the lack of an official decree setting election dates and the failure to publish the required electoral deposit amounts, warning against a de facto postponement of the vote.

Second, PASTEF is contesting the Constitutional Council's recent decision to declare its proposed law on the regulation of special credits inadmissible. The party has accused President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of blocking transparency reforms to protect political funds. While the Council ruled that the management of these credits falls under regulatory rather than legislative authority, the parliamentary group maintains its commitment to pursuing legislative oversight to ensure accountability in the management of public funds.