Central African Republic: towards a lifting of the lock limiting the number of presidential terms to two
Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, September 17, 2021 in Bangui.
© Carol Valade / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In the Central African Republic, after months of controversy over President Touadéra's desire to change the Constitution in order to be able to stand for a third term, things were clarified on Thursday 26 following a press conference by the President of the Institutions and Democracy Commission of the Central African Republic. 'National Assembly.
Advertising
Read more
Surrounded by representatives of parliamentary groups of the presidential majority, the deputy Brice Kévin Kakpayen took over from the members of the ruling party, and presented a draft amendment relating to several articles of the Constitution.
Objective is clear: to break the limit on the number of presidential terms.
Main argument of the one who presents himself as the initiator of this attempt to break this constitutional lock the example that constitutes in his eyes the model chosen by the other countries of the region, Congo, Cameroon and other Gabon.
“
It is just in the Central African Republic that we have put a lock on saying that the head of state can be elected for five years and that this mandate can be renewed only once.
When you go through the other countries of the sub-region, you see that this term limit does not exist
, ”argues MP Brice Kévin Kakpayen.
The former Prime Minister today opponent Martin Ziguélé does not lose his temper especially since he was cited yesterday among those who inspired this initiative to revise the Constitution of the Central African Republic.
As for the argument on unlimited presidential terms for the other presidents of the sub-region, we must not choose bad examples, he said, before attacking President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
“
Things are clear: the initiative to modify this Constitution comes from President Touadera himself.
We saw that during the political dialogue, they tried to introduce this debate and that is why we did not go to the dialogue, the trap was big.
Now, they can't have the courage to have this presented by the government and they go through a deputy who belongs to the majority and who presents himself as an independent to pass the pill.
But it is very big and it will not pass.
»
After months of speculation on President Touadéra's desire to break the constitutional lock of two terms, the dice are now cast.
Each camp is preparing for a parliamentary battle that promises to be Homeric.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Central African Republic
Faustin-Archange Touadera