Senegal National Assembly Adopts Bill to Amend Constitution on Asset Declaration

The adoption of a proposal to amend Article 37 of the Constitution has been approved by the National Assembly, with 133 votes in favor and 2 against. The proposed amendment aims to extend the obligation to declare and publish assets to the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Republic.

The legal significance of this development lies in the fact that it seeks to bring the Constitution into line with existing legislation on asset declaration. Currently, the law excludes the President of the Republic from its scope, creating a 'void' in the legal framework. The proposed amendment aims to address this issue and allow the Constitutional Council to verify the accuracy and completeness of the President's asset declaration.

The relevant statutes and regulations involved in this matter include the Constitution of Senegal and the law on asset declaration. The proposal was presented by Deputy Amadou Ba, who argued that the current legal framework presents difficulties in ensuring transparency and accountability in asset declaration. The Constitutional Council will be responsible for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the President's asset declaration.

The key parties involved in this matter include the National Assembly, the President of the Republic, and the Constitutional Council. Practitioners should monitor the progress of the amendment through the legislative process to understand how it will impact transparency and accountability in Senegal.