LFR 2026: Sheikh Diba urges Parliament to avoid institutional deadlock

Faced with the intense tensions threatening the adoption of the 2026 supplementary budget law, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Cheikh Diba, has made a passionate plea for a "frank, loyal, sincere, and productive" dialogue between the Executive and the Legislature. Explaining the reasons for referring the bill back to committee, the Minister urged members of parliament to choose responsibility and republican compromise to prevent a damaging institutional crisis in the country.

Faced with disagreements between the government and the National Assembly, the Minister of Economy and Finance is advocating for frank, honest, and constructive discussions. Cheikh Diba assures that the dialogue is not intended to bypass Parliament, but rather to reconcile positions while respecting the law. According to him, the government wants to prevent the disagreements surrounding the review of the 2026 supplementary budget bill from leading to an institutional deadlock. Speaking before the National Assembly, Minister Cheikh Diba made a strong appeal for dialogue between the Executive and Parliament, urging both institutions to prioritize finding a compromise. While the review of the budget bill is generating tension, the Minister defended referring the bill back to the Finance and Budget Control Committee as a further opportunity to discuss the concerns raised by the members of parliament. "Senegal needs institutions that talk to each other, respect each other, and know how to use legal means to reach constructive solutions," he said.

Read also: "LFR 2026: Cheikh Diba requests referral to committee, plenary session adjourned"

“ Responsibility rather than tension”

In his address, Cheikh Diba emphasized the need to overcome political and institutional differences to preserve the smooth functioning of the state. He argued that disagreements between the government and the National Assembly should not hinder the search for solutions when the public interest is at stake. "Institutional debate is not an end in itself. It must contribute to the proper functioning of the state and the achievement of objectives that serve the public interest," he affirmed. The minister also clarified that the government's approach was neither an abdication of its responsibilities nor an attempt to circumvent parliamentary debate. "The government is not seeking to oppose positions or establish institutions based on a logic of confrontation. It is seeking to encourage a path of dialogue that will deepen discussions and bring positions closer together," he maintained. In this regard, he called for a dialogue that is "frank, loyal, sincere, and productive." Frank, to allow for the direct expression of concerns; loyal, to respect the rules and responsibilities of each party; sincere, to truly overcome differences; and fruitful, so that the discussions lead to concrete progress.

A compromise that respects the institutions

For Cheikh Diba, recourse to dialogue must go hand in hand with respect for parliamentary procedures. It is with this in mind that the government requested the referral of the Finance Law back to committee, invoking Article 84 of the National Assembly's rules of procedure. The minister reiterated that the government and the National Assembly have distinct roles and specific prerogatives, but that these differences should not be an obstacle to bridging their positions. "Respect for the rules cannot be applied selectively," he emphasized, stressing that the strength of the Republic is also measured by the ability of its institutions to overcome their differences through the legal channels. The stated objective is to allow for a thorough examination of the concerns expressed by parliamentarians, while preserving the State's budgetary commitments for 2026. The minister thus reaffirmed the government's willingness to continue discussions within the framework of these supplementary works. "He needs responsibility rather than tension, dialogue rather than closure, and useful compromise rather than institutional deadlock," concluded Sheikh Diba.