Pastef demands Senegal’s 2026 budget protect social spending
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Seneweb
The Pastef-Les Patriotes parliamentary group is refusing to adopt the 2026 supplementary finance bill as it stands and is calling in particular for public investment and social spending to be preserved. It is also demanding more guarantees on funding and information for the National Assembly, according to its 23 October statement, relayed by Seneweb.
The Pastef-Les Patriotes parliamentary group is calling for public investment and social priorities to be preserved in Senegal’s 2026 supplementary finance bill (LFR). In a statement published on 23 October, it made any possible reconsideration of its refusal to adopt the bill as it stands conditional on several requirements, following its examination by the Finance Committee.
Pastef is notably calling for cuts affecting health, education, vocational training, water, infrastructure, industry and projects under the National Transformation Agenda to be reconsidered. The group proposes that adjustments should focus as a priority on spending it considers non-essential. It also wants any reduction in energy subsidies to be accompanied by lower taxation on petroleum products and lower electricity supply and production costs, with no price increases for households and businesses.
The MPs are also demanding explanations about the 120 billion CFA francs allocated to the Contingency Emergency Response Project (CERP), as well as the transmission of agreements concluded with the World Bank and details on the origin and allocation of the funds. Pastef also denounces disagreements over budgetary decisions and a lack of guarantees for the National Assembly, which, according to the group, must have the information necessary to examine the bill.
The debate on the 2026 supplementary finance bill has already prompted public statements, including Al Aminou Lo’s refusal of a televised debate, announced on 22 October.
