During his investiture meeting held this Sunday at the Dakar Arena, Ousmane Sonko addressed the issue of the upcoming local elections, taking a clear stance against any potential postponement of the vote.

In front of several thousand militants and leaders of PASTEF, the party leader stated that his political formation would not support any initiative aimed at delaying the electoral deadline. “PASTEF will not agree to a postponement of the local elections. We are ready,” he declared to the applause of his supporters.

Continuing his speech, Ousmane Sonko reminded that any postponement of the elections should, in his view, respect the institutional mechanisms provided by law. “A postponement of elections is not possible in Senegal without going through the National Assembly,” he asserted, before inviting the competent authorities to initiate the necessary procedures for holding the vote. The president of PASTEF also seemed to respond to speculations surrounding the electoral calendar. “Let the president sign the decree, slowness will not save us,” he stated, in a phrase that elicited strong reactions from the audience.

Beyond the institutional debate, Ousmane Sonko emphasized the political preparation of the party for the upcoming local elections. He called on militants to organize themselves now on the ground to strengthen PASTEF’s presence in local communities. “In view of these elections, I ask the militants to organize. Let us return to the PASTEF spirit. Let us put the party’s interest first,” he urged.

In a message addressed to the party’s leaders and potential candidates, the leader of the Patriots advocated for an approach based on collective interest rather than personal ambitions. “Being mayor is not the beginning and the end of a life,” he stated, urging militants to prioritize internal cohesion as the investitures and local electoral competitions approach.