Senegal: 126 votes against the amended budget, Parliament inflicts another setback on the government

The Senegalese government failed to pass its revised budget. The National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected it, with 126 votes against after the vote was amended. This decision confirms the parliamentary majority's determination not to endorse the financial projections presented by the executive branch.

Meeting in plenary session on November 3, 2026, the members of parliament adopted a preliminary motion tabled by Amadou Bâ, a member of the Pastef party. The initial vote recorded 109 votes against, 20 against, and 3 abstentions. After the inclusion of 17 proxy votes that had been omitted from the first count, the number of votes against the motion rose to 126.

At the heart of the disagreement lies the accuracy of the figures presented by the government. Parliamentarians are particularly contesting the announced budget deficit of 7,6% of gross domestic product (GDP), the revenue forecasts, and the 555 billion FCFA reduction in investment spending. They believe these choices require more convincing explanations before any approval.

This third rejection, following two defeats before the Finance Committee, sends the executive branch back to its proposals. Despite discussions with members of parliament and the defense of the text by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Cheikh Diba, no compromise has been reached to secure the support of the majority.

The vote could also impact negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Approval of a $2,2 billion financing program is still pending from its board of directors. But for parliamentarians, the urgent need to secure funding should not absolve the government of its responsibility to address questions about the management of public finances.

Through this vote, the National Assembly reiterates that adopting a budget is not a mere formality. The executive branch will now have to revise its proposal and convince members of parliament of the soundness of its financial choices.

Yolande Bazié