​In the case of the former President of the Republic, the President of the Republic shall be elected by the National Assembly. 

  The National Assembly took an important decision by approving, following a vote, the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Mr Farba Ngom, député. This decision is part of the respect for legal procedures and aims to strengthen the fundamental principles of our democracy: equality before the law, transparency and justice. It must not serve as a shield when an elected official is the subject of serious accusations or suspicions. In this particular case, serious facts were brought to the attention of the authorities, requiring a thorough judicial investigation. In order to allow the judiciary to carry out its work in full independence, it was essential that this immunity be waived. The lifting of Mr Farba Ngom’s parliamentary immunity does not mean that he is guilty. It simply guarantees that the accusations against him can be brought to light in the framework of a transparent and fair process. The process leading to this decision was conducted with rigor and in respect of the rights of all parties concerned.