Regardless of the path chosen by the head of state, the current administration would emerge weakened from another electoral contest, according to the leader of Pastef.
The prospect of dissolving the National Assembly continues to generate considerable discussion within Sénégal’s political circles. This Saturday, during a party rally held in Linguère, Ousmane Sonko directly addressed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on the matter, cautioning him about the potential electoral repercussions of such a move.
The Pastef leader asserted that any electoral engagement, regardless of its form, would diminish the standing of the incumbent power. However, he particularly highlighted the dissolution of the assembly as an action that would most severely backfire on the President.
“Should he organize local elections, we will defeat him. If he dissolves the Assembly, that would be even worse for him. And frankly, that is what we prefer, because we would utterly crush him. After that, I even fear he might concede before 2029,” Ousmane Sonko declared, in a direct and unequivocal message to the occupant of the presidential palace. This statement reflects a strong conviction in Pastef’s enduring electoral advantage, more than a year after assuming power.
A call for vigilance and calm to militants
Beyond his warning to the head of state, Ousmane Sonko also took the opportunity to address his own supporters. He urged Pastef militants to exercise restraint in the face of what he described as attempts by political adversaries to destabilize the party.
“I call upon everyone to be vigilant and calm. They are trying to provoke Pastef so that our youth react, allowing them to dissolve the party and withdraw its registration,” he cautioned, warning against any missteps that could, in his view, be exploited against his political movement.
Ousmane Sonko believes that his militants’ ability to resist these provocations will directly determine the outcome of upcoming electoral contests, which he views with resolute optimism. He anticipates that, with collective composure, the next elections – whether local or snap legislative polls – will result in an effortless victory for his camp, which he confidently described as a “mere stroll in the park.”
