« On ne peut plus éliminer un candidat pour une simple amende » : Le plaidoyer de Bamba Cissé pour une démocratie sans verrous
Speaking at a tense plenary session, Interior Minister Bamba Cissé strongly defended Bill No. 11/2026 amending the Electoral Code. Facing sharp criticism from the opposition, he argued for a reform he deemed "necessary to advance Senegalese democracy."
“No more eliminating candidates”
In his address, the minister emphasized a principle he considers fundamental: democracy must not be used to arbitrarily exclude citizens from the electoral process. According to him, certain previous provisions of the electoral code allowed for the disqualification of candidates for disproportionate reasons. "It is time for Senegal to move beyond a situation where a candidate can be eliminated based solely on a fine," he argued, advocating for a more open political landscape.
Responding to recurring accusations that the law was "tailor-made," the minister firmly rejected this interpretation. He maintains that the reform does not target any individual in particular, especially Ousmane Sonko, whose name dominates the debate. According to him, the issue of eligibility is not framed in the terms put forward by his detractors, and he reiterated that anyone duly registered on the electoral lists already possesses rights guaranteed by law.
A debate placed in its historical context
Bamba Cissé also recalled previous legislative events, mentioning past reforms adopted without consensus under previous majorities. He cited legislation that allowed certain political figures to regain their civil rights, deeming current criticisms inconsistent. In this regard, he indirectly addressed Ms. Aïssata Tall Sall, emphasizing that similar initiatives had been undertaken in the past in the name of political appeasement.
The risk of exclusion highlighted
The minister warned against the consequences of an exclusion perceived as unjust by a segment of the population. According to him, recent crises have demonstrated that the feeling of political marginalization can generate serious social tensions. He therefore called for lessons to be learned from the past to prevent further episodes of violence.
In essence, Bamba Cissé clarified that the reform maintains strict restrictions on offenses related to public management (corruption, embezzlement of public funds, money laundering). According to him, the philosophy behind the text is clear: to exclude those who commit serious offenses against the state, while guaranteeing other citizens full participation in democratic life.
The question of assumed retroactivity
Addressing the most controversial point, the minister defended the retroactive application of the law, deeming it legally sound outside the strictly criminal sphere. He reiterated that the legislature possesses the necessary sovereignty to define the conditions for the application of laws over time. For Bamba Cissé, this reform constitutes an essential step towards more inclusive elections, allowing Senegal to "move beyond the logic of exclusion."
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