In a press release, the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) strongly contested the installation of Ousmane Sonko as president of the National Assembly. The opposition coalition described the May 26th event as a "sham and a parliamentary coup," calling for a general mobilization to demand his immediate resignation.

For the FDR, Ousmane Sonko's rise to the presidency of the National Assembly is not an isolated event but the culmination of a plan "orchestrated for nearly a year by the PASTEF parliamentary majority." The opposition recalls that on June 27, 2025, the ruling party initiated a reform of the National Assembly's rules of procedure. According to the FDR, this reform was aimed from the outset at preparing the "illegal recycling" of its leader. The majority attempted to amend Article 56 to grant itself exorbitant powers, transforming the institution into a "people's tribunal." These provisions were struck down by the Constitutional Council, but the amendment to Article 15, allowing for the immediate election of a new president in the event of a vacancy, was imposed. The FDR sees this as a maneuver designed to "catch the Senegalese people off guard."

The challenge rests on constitutional and electoral grounds. The FDR points out that, according to Article LO172 of the Electoral Code, Ousmane Sonko "could no longer be a member of parliament after 2024 due to his continued service in the government." The opposition also denounces the amendment to Article 124 of the internal regulations, introduced to prepare for his installation. According to the FDR, this procedure circumvents Article 54 of the Constitution, which requires an organic law to allow a minister's return to the National Assembly. "This scenario did not apply to Ousmane Sonko," the FDR insists.

The statement links the accelerated legislative timetable to a sense of "panic" within the government. According to the opposition, PASTEF MPs "violated the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and the Assembly's rules of procedure" to grant parliamentary immunity to their leader. The FDR also criticizes Ousmane Sonko's first speech from the Speaker's chair, accusing him of speaking "exclusively on behalf of the PASTEF party," reducing the National Assembly to "a party branch" and a tool in a power struggle.

Faced with what it describes as a "serious attack on the regular functioning of institutions", the FDR calls on the country's vital forces to organize a response and demands "the immediate and unconditional resignation" of Ousmane Sonko.

For the FDR, he is an "illegal and illegitimate" president. The Conference of Leaders finally issued a solemn appeal to religious leaders, traditional authorities, intellectuals, and civil society actors to contribute to "preserving civil peace, defending the rule of law, and guaranteeing respect for the republican pact."