PDS urges Senegal to reject constitutional reforms and slams Ousmane Sonko’s influence

Democratic party calls for mass mobilization against proposed amendments

The Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS) has officially declared its position regarding the upcoming referendum on constitutional revisions. While the party acknowledges President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s decision to consult the citizens of Sénégal, the political group led by Karim Wade is calling for a decisive “No” vote, while launching a sharp critique against Ousmane Sonko.

In a formal statement released this Tuesday, the PDS expressed its views on the national debate surrounding these reforms. The party noted the importance of the Head of State’s move to bring these modifications before the public, yet it warned that the proposed changes represent a significant threat to the nation’s institutional equilibrium.

For the PDS, this upcoming vote is a critical moment for the people of Sénégal to directly reject reforms that the party deems hazardous to the country’s democratic stability.

A campaign for the “No” vote

The party is actively encouraging its members, supporters, and the general public to mobilize and vote against the referendum. According to the PDS leadership, the proposed constitutional modifications appear to be driven by the personal ambitions of Ousmane Sonko. They argue that these initiatives demonstrate a desire to undermine republican institutions and the core principles of the Sénégal democracy.

Furthermore, the PDS claims that the leader of Pastef is attempting to spark an institutional crisis. This follows what the party describes as a period of economic and social decline that they attribute to his political influence.

Allegations of institutional destabilization

The PDS has voiced concerns that Ousmane Sonko is manipulating state institutions for partisan political gains, characterizing his actions as an attempt to destabilize the constitutional order. In light of these concerns, the party has called upon the President of the Republic and judicial authorities to take all necessary steps to safeguard the peace, public liberties, and the integrity of national institutions.

The party also took the opportunity to denounce the violence recently witnessed within the National Assembly. Specifically, the PDS condemned the treatment of MP Abdou Mbow, blaming Pastef deputies for the incidents. This political standoff occurs during a period of heightened tension as different factions across Sénégal clash over the future of the nation’s supreme law.