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SENEGAL
Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1963 -
LEADERSHIP
President Moustapha Niasse (M) 
Notes Elected on 30 July 2012, re-elected on 11 October 2013, on 14 October 2014* and on 14 September 2017.
*Until 2014, the Speaker's term of office was one year and was renewable. Following the modification to the internal rules of procedure of the National Assembly in 2014, the Speaker is now elected for the duration of the legislature (five years).
Secretary General Marie Joséphine Diallo (F) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 165 / 165
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 69 (41.82%)
Mode of designation directly elected 165
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 30 July 2017
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Assemblée Nationale
B.P. 86 - DAKAR
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (221 33) 823 34 72
Fax (221 33) 823 94 02
E-mail mariejosephinediallo@yahoo.fr
Website
http://www.assemblee-nationale.sn/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 20 May 1991
Last amendment: Presidential decree (2017-412 of 15 March 2017)
Mode of designation directly elected 165
Constituencies - 45 departmental single or multi-member constituencies (up to 7 seats, depending on population) for 90 members elected in Senegal
- 10 single or multi-member constituencies for 15 members representing Senegalese abroad: 4 in Africa, 2 in Europe, 1 in Oceania-Americas, 3 in Asia-Middle East; up to 3 seats from each zone.
Voting system Mixed:
- Party Block Vote (PBV) for 105 members elected from constituencies.
- List Proportional Representation (List PR) system for 60 members chosen from lists of candidates presented by parties, coalitions of parties and independent persons at the national level.

Vacancies which arise between general elections are normally filled by the "next-in-line" candidate on the list of the same party, coalition of parties or independent persons which held the seats in question.

By-elections are held within three months should there remain no more names of potential members on the list concerned. No by-election is held within the last 12 months of the legislature.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Senegalese citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- disqualifications: conviction for crime, imprisonment of specified length for certain offences, contempt of court, undischarged bankruptcy
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 25 years
- Senegalese citizenship
- fulfillment of all requirements regarding active military service
- naturalized foreigners and women having acquired Senegalese nationality by marriage : after a period of 10 years from the date of their naturalization
- ineligibility: guardianship, conviction preventing registration on electoral list, Governors and their deputies, judges and other senior officials of national services and public institutions
Incompatibilities - holders of non-elective public functions
- membership of the Economic and Social Council
- employment for foreign States or international organizations
- executive in a State enterprise, State-assisted company, savings and credit organization or company holding a government contract
- Ministers of the Government
- members of the armed or police forces on active duty
Candidacy requirements - lists must be submitted by political parties, coalitions of parties or independent persons no later than 50 days prior to the election date
- lists under the majority system include substitutes whose number is equal to the number of seats available
- national lists under the proportional representation system must include 50 substitutes
- half of each party's candidates (both for titular members and substitutes) must be women
- gender parity is applied to all lists. The gender in lists with candidates and substitutes has to alternate. If there is an odd number of candidates, the number of the less represented gender will be the immediately lesser even number.” If only one member in a department is to be elected, the member and the substitute must be of the opposite sex.
- independent candidates must obtain the supporting signature of 10,000 voters registered in six regions (at least 500 voters from each region)
- monetary deposit, reimbursed if the list concerned obtains at least one seat in the National Assembly

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 30 July 2017
Timing and scope of renewal President Macky Sall’s Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition won a two-thirds majority in the 165-member National Assembly (see note). Former President Abdoulaye Wade's Winning Coalition - "Wattu Senegaal" came a distant second with 19 seats. The "Mankoo Taxawu Senegaal" Coalition, led by the Mayor of Dakar, Mr. Khalifa Sall , took seven seats. 11 other parties took fewer than three seats each.

On 6 September, Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne was re-appointed to the post. On 11 September, shortly before the convening of the newly-elected National Assembly, Mr. Wade, 91, announced that he would not take up his seat in parliament.

During the election campaign, the Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition ran on the government record, citing the construction of a new airport and other infrastructure projects . The 2017 elections saw sporadic incidents such as attacks on campaign convoys. A clash between rival supporters during Senegal's football League Cup and a stampede that followed killed eight people. Subsequently sporting and cultural events were banned for the duration of the campaign. On the polling day, delays in issuing biometric identity cards prevented several voters from casting their ballot.

Note:
In accordance with constitutional amendments adopted in March 2016, the statutory number of members of the National Assembly increased from 150 to 165, to include 15 seats for the Senegalese diaspora.
Date of previous elections: 1 July 2012

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: July 2022

Number of seats at stake: 165 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: Not available.

Percentage of women candidates: Not available.

Number of parties contesting the election: 47 parties/coalitions

Number of parties winning seats: 14

Alternation of power: No

Number of parties in government: 1

Names of parties in government: Benno Bokk Yaakaar

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 14 September 2017

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Moustapha Niasse (Benno Bokk Yaakaar)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 130 July 2017
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
6'219'446
3'337'494 (53.66%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Benno Bokk Yaakaar
Winning Coalition - "Wattu Senegaal"
"Mankoo Taxawu Senegaal" Coalition
Unity and Rally Party (PUR)
"Kaddu Askanwi" - Patriotic Convergence Coalition
Party for Truth and Development (PVD)
"Mankoo Yeesal Senegal " Coalition
Bunt-Bi - Union of Citizens
Patriotic Convergence for Justice and Equity - Nay Leéer (CPJE - Nay Leéer)
"And - Saxal Liggéey" Coalition
Dare the Future
Alternative Pole - 3rd Way "Senegaal Dey Dem" Coalition
"Ndawi Askanwi" - People’s Alternative Coalition
Initiative for a Policy of Development (IPD)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Benno Bokk Yaakaar 125
Winning Coalition - "Wattu Senegaal" 19
"Mankoo Taxawu Senegaal" Coalition 7
Unity and Rally Party (PUR) 3
"Kaddu Askanwi" - Patriotic Convergence Coalition 2
Party for Truth and Development (PVD) 1
"Mankoo Yeesal Senegal " Coalition 1
Bunt-Bi - Union of Citizens 1
Patriotic Convergence for Justice and Equity - Nay Leéer (CPJE - Nay Leéer) 1
"And - Saxal Liggéey" Coalition 1
Dare the Future 1
Alternative Pole - 3rd Way "Senegaal Dey Dem" Coalition 1
"Ndawi Askanwi" - People’s Alternative Coalition 1
Initiative for a Policy of Development (IPD) 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
96

69

41.82%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Source:
National Assembly (19.09.2017)
AFP
http://www.jeuneafrique.com
http://www.rfi.fr/
http://www.france24.com
http://www.reuters.com/
http://www.bbc.com
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/senegal-votes-tense-election-campaign/

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the National Assembly
Term - duration: 5 years (term of house)*
- reasons for interruption of term: resignation, dissolution of the Assembly, death
- serves until the new legislature has been installed
*Until 2014, the Speaker's term of office was one year and was renewable. Following the modification to the internal rules of procedure of the National Assembly in 2014, the Speaker is now elected for the duration of the legislature (five years).
Appointment - elected by the Assembly at the beginning of the legislature, following validation of Members' mandates by the Constitutional Council
Eligibility - any Member may be a candidate, but formal notification is required
- notification of candidatures must be made at the latest one hour before the opening of the sitting
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot with 2 rounds of voting
- an absolute majority is required in the first round, and a relative majority in the second
Procedures / results - the oldest Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the secretaries of the sitting and the appointed tellers supervise the voting
- the President of the sitting announces the results immediately following the vote
- the results may be challenged before the Board and, possibly, the courts
STATUS
Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of State
- represents Parliament as an institution (may delegate Deputy Speakers or committee chairmen)
- in the absence of the President due to holidays, resignation or death, the first Vice President can assume his/her role and functions
Board - the Board is elected by the Assembly
- consists of 20 Members who are eligible for re-election each year.
- exercises all powers over the services pursuant to the President's instructions.
Material facilities - special allowance
- official residence
- domestic staff
- official car
- bodyguards
- military protection
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions (the Board is also competent in this respect)
The Conference of Speakers:
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees

Chairing of public sittings - opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
Special powers - prepares the budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacitiy, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates by leaving his seat on the presidential podium
- takes part in voting
- promulgates laws if the President of the Republic has not done so before the expiry of the constitutional deadline
- oversees the constitutionality of laws through the Council

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 53 of the Constitution of 07.03.1963, with the amendments of 13.06.1994)
Start of the mandate · When the first session of the National Assembly opens, at the latest by 30.06.
Validation of mandates · Validation by the Constitutional Council (Art. LO 160 in conjunction with Art. LO 112 of the Electoral Code)
· Procedure
End of the mandate · On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets, at the latest by 30.06. of the fifth year following the election of the National Assembly (Art. L 124 of the Electoral Code). In case of early dissolution, on the day of early dissolution.
Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 6 (1) of the Standing Orders)
· Procedure (Art. 6 (2) and (3)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the National Assembly
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (compulsory resignation):
- A deputy is deemed to have compulsorily resigned in case of incompatibility and if in the eight days after he takes up office he has not resigned from his posts incompatible with his mandate (Art. 98 of the Standing Orders, Art. LO 142 of the Electoral Code).
- He may be deemed to have compulsorily resigned if he fails to attend the sittings of two ordinary sessions.
- Any committee member who misses three successive sittings without a valid reason and who fails to have himself represented in accordance with Art. 25 of the Standing Orders is deemed to have compulsorily resigned (Art. 26 of the Standing Orders).
(b) Loss of mandate for ineligibility:
- Any deputy whose ineligibility comes out after the declaration of results and the expiry of the time limit for challenges, or who, during his mandate, finds himself in one of the cases of ineligibility covered by the Electoral Code (Art. LO 132 of the Electoral Code) shall forfeit his seat without further consideration. For cases of ineligibility see Art. LO 127 to 131 of the Electoral Code.
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The Board
2. The Presidents of Committees and the General Rapporteur for the Budget
3. The Vice-Presidents of groups
4. The other deputies
· Outside Parliament:
- When the constituted bodies and the authorities are convened together by act of the Government:
- In Dakar: the deputies (except the Speaker) in the 7th position.
- When the authorities are convened individually by act of the Government:
- In the regions: the official order of precedence ranks the deputies of the region in the 4th position.

Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary: equal to the salary in Dakar at the maximum index of the general hierarchy of managerial staff of the magistrature, military staff and bodies of State civil servants (Art. 85 (1) of the Standing Orders)
+ Housing allowance: CFA F 250,000 per month
+ Petrol allowance: depending on the distance between home and work place
+ Representation allowance for certain functions:
- President of the Assembly: Fixed in relation to the representation expenses of the
Head of State
- Board, leaders of parliamentary groups, Committee Presidents set out in Art. 20
of the Standing Orders, General Rapporteur of the Finance Committee: Fixed in relation to the functioning costs of members of Government
· Exemption from tax for the portion of the basic salary that is not representative of professional expenses (according to Art. 85 (1) of the Rules of Procedure half of the basic salary)
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for Board members, Committee Presidents and the General Rapporteur for the budget. Work room equipped with a secretariat for the other deputies
(b) Official car for Board members, Committee Presidents and the General Rapporteur for the budget.
(c) Official housing for Board members, Committee Presidents and the General Rapporteur for the budget. Rooms are assigned on a permanent basis, throughout the legislature, to the other deputies from the regions.
(d) Security guards for the President of the National Assembly
(e) Postal and telephone services. A phone booth is placed at the disposal of deputies who are neither Board members nor Committee Presidents.
(f) Travel and transport: outside missions, support is provided to deputies residing in remote regions.

Obligation to declare personal assets No
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 50 (1) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (1) of the Standing Orders).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: insult to the Assembly and personal attacks (Art. 45 (7), Art. 47 and Art. 50 (2) of the Standing Orders; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 50 (2) and (3) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations:
- During the entire session, prosecution or arrest in criminal proceedings is possible in cases of flagrante delicto (Art. 50 (2) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (2) of the Standing Orders).
- When Parliament is in recess, arrest is possible in cases of flagrante delicto, authorisation prosecution or final sentencing (Art. 50 (3) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (3) of the Standing Orders).
· Parliamentary inviolability prevents MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and does not also cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. Notwithstanding, such proceedings may be suspended by the National Assembly.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 50 (2) and (3) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly
- Procedure (Art. 44 of the Standing Orders). In this case, MPs or the colleagues they have delegated to represent them are heard by the Special Committee. In the Assembly, the deputies concerned or their representatives may take the floor.
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members (Art. 50 (4) of the Constitution, taken up in Art. 43 (4) of the Standing Orders):
- Competent authority: the National Assembly
- Procedure (Art. 44 of the Standing Orders). In this case, MPs or the colleagues they have delegated to represent them are heard by the Special Committee. In the Assembly, the deputies concerned or their representatives may take the floor.


EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. Nor is there a handbook of parliamentary procedure.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee or Board meetings, and at the Conference of Presidents .
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation:
- A deputy may be deemed to have resigned automatically if he has not attended the sittings of two ordinary sessions.
- A committee member who is absent without valid grounds from three successive sittings and who does not have himself represented in accordance with Art. 25 of the Standing Orders is deemed to have resigned automatically.
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 45 to 51 of the Standing Orders.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen (Art. 49 of the Standing Orders):
- Call to order (Art. 50 (1) to (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Call to order with entry in the record (Art. 51 (1) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Entry in the record with censure (Art. 51 (1) and (4) of the Standing Orders)
- Temporary expulsion for no longer than 24 hours (Art. 51 (1) (2) (5) and (6) of the Standing Orders)
· Specific cases:
- Offence to the Assembly/personal attacks (Art. 45 (7) and Art. 50 (2) of the Standing Orders): three months to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 francs or only one of these two penalties/call to order
- Disturbance (Art. 45 (5) to (7), Art. 46 (4) of the Standing Orders): expulsion from the room or arrest, drawing-up of a report and request for intervention by the Chief Prosecutor in case of crime or felony, three months to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 francs or only one of these two penalties
- Uproar (Art. 48 of the Standing Orders): suspension of the sitting
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Call to order: the President
- Call to order with entry in the record, entry in the record with censure: the National Assembly, on a proposal by the President, by a majority of the members present and by secret ballot
- Temporary exclusion: the National Assembly, on a proposal by the President, by a majority of the members present and by secret ballot; in exceptional cases, the President
- Specific cases: the President
· Procedure:
- Call to order/personal attacks (Art. 50 (2) and (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Call to order with entry in the record (Art. 51 (3) of the Standing Orders)
- Entry in the record with censure (Art. 51 (4) of the Standing Orders)
- Temporary exclusion (Art. 51 (5) and (6) of the Standing Orders)
- Disturbance/offence to the Assembly (Art. 45 (5) to (7), Art. 46 (4) of the Standing Orders)
- Uproar (Art. 48 of the Standing Orders)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system, but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 89 to 98 of the Standing Orders, Art. LO 133 to LO 142 of the Electoral Code).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of these rules:
- Declaration of compulsory resignation (Art. 98 of the Standing Orders, Art. LO 142 of the Electoral Code; see Loss of mandate)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the National Assembly at the request of the President of the Republic or the Board (Art. 98 (4) of the Standing Orders, Art. LO 142 (3) of the Electoral Code)
· Procedure:
- See Loss of mandate (Art. 98 of the Standing Orders, Art. LO 142 of the Electoral Code)

Relations between MPs and pressure group · Ban on setting up a group for the defence of special interests (Art. 18 (8) of the Standing Orders)

This page was last updated on 2 July 2018
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