By RFIPosted on 03-22-2019 Modified the 22-03-2019 at 08:55

Contrary to a scenario that had been mentioned, the constitutional referendum to pave the way for the 5th Republic in Burkina Faso will not be held next Sunday. A date that had never really been retained. Promised by President Kaboré during his 2015 election campaign, the new constitution must give birth to a fifth republic, a "semi-presidential regime" with a two-fold limit on the number of mandates of the head of state. It also provides for a procedure for dismissal of the president by the Constitutional Court. No date is yet set for this referendum.

On August 26th, the Electoral Commission had issued a communiqué evoking the date of March 24th. But according to the spokesman of the government, Remis Fulgence Dandjinou, "at no time this date was validated by the head of state and the electoral body was never convened."

Last Thursday, Halidou Ouedraogo, president of the Constitutional Commission, met the President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. "He assured us that the principle of an adoption by referendum was acquired and for us, it is the essential ... In the particular context which is ours [in reference to the quasi-daily attacks of the jihadists Ed] the date does not matter, "said the human rights defender, adding that" the presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for 2020. This referendum will be held either before or at the same time but not after. "

According to a well-informed source, "it is indeed possible that the 3 polls are held on the same day". this source insists on the need for savings, knowing that the referendum could cost more than 40 billion CFA francs (60 million euros). Another possibility envisaged according to this source: "to couple the presidential with the referendum in 2020 then the legislative ones with the municipal ones".

    On the same subject

    Putsch missed in Burkina: wiretaps at the center of debates

    Burkina: civil society denounces abuses during military operation

    Putsch missed in Burkina: the version of the current Minister of Defense Cherif Sy

    Presidential elections in Burkina Faso: Kadré D. Ouédraogo rejects "partisan divisions"

    comments