« Vous quittez ou je vous fais quitter » : Comment la séance sur la révision constitutionnelle a basculé dans le chaos (vidéo)
The plenary session devoted to the examination of the draft revision of the Constitution turned into an open crisis this Monday at the National Assembly, marked by a power struggle of rare intensity between the president of the session, Ousmane Sonko, and the deputy Abdou Mbow, president of the parliamentary group Takku Wallu Sénégal.
After being granted the floor to raise a preliminary question aimed at interrupting the debate on the bill, Abdou Mbow saw his request rejected following interventions by the chairman of the Law Commission, Abdoulaye Tall, and the chairman of the Pastef parliamentary group, Ayib Daffé, both of whom urged the Assembly to bypass this procedure. Following this exchange, the opposition MP attempted to return to the podium for another speech. This move was firmly opposed by Ousmane Sonko, who was presiding over the proceedings. Sonko ordered the MP's microphone to be muted and instructed him to vacate the podium. "You leave, or I will make you leave," the presiding officer declared to Abdou Mbow.
Orders, pushing and shoving, and blocking of debates
Refusing to comply, the MP remained stationed at the podium despite repeated orders from the Speaker. Ousmane Sonko then chose to proceed with the proceedings by opening the list of registered speakers for the general debates. Supported by his colleagues from the Takku Wallu Sénégal group and by the non-affiliated MPs who had gathered around him, Abdou Mbow remained inflexible. After reading the list of the 76 MPs registered for the debates, the Speaker gave the floor to MP Guy Marius Sagna, while reminding everyone of the rules of procedure stipulating that no member of parliament may retain the floor or occupy the podium against the Speaker's decision.
The situation then gradually deteriorated in the chamber. Guy Marius Sagna's intervention was completely drowned out by the protests and uproar from opposition members. Faced with this persistent refusal, the plenary session nearly descended into chaos when several members of the majority converged on the podium to have the protester removed. Among them, MP Marième Mbacké attempted to forcibly move him, triggering a scuffle, while Ousmane Sonko called on the Pastef MPs to return to their seats to prevent the situation from escalating into a general brawl.
The intervention of the gendarmes and the opposition's boycott
Faced with the deadlock and complete blockage of proceedings, the presiding officer called in the police. Members of the national gendarmerie stationed at Parliament then entered the chamber and forcibly removed Abdou Mbow. The parliamentarian was taken from the room amidst jeers and vehement protests from his supporters.
In a show of solidarity against this unprecedented expulsion, all members of the Takku Wallu Sénégal parliamentary group, along with several independent members, immediately left the chamber. This massive boycott by the opposition further exacerbates the political crisis and tensions surrounding a proposed constitutional amendment, which is now being voted on amidst an atmosphere of institutional breakdown.
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