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Dadparvar
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday condemned the announcement of a new constitutional amendment in Chad, stating that it threatens to pose a significant setback to the rule of law and democracy by empowering current President Mahamat Idriss Déby to remain in power for generations to come.
HRW Central Africa Director Lewis Mudge commented on the severity of the issue, stating: “By removing presidential term limits, Chad’s authorities have dismantled an important safeguard against authoritarianism.”
The president’s stronghold and political concentration in government were solidified with the finalization of these constitutional reforms back in early October. His ruling party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement patriotique du salut, also known as MPS), dominates a large portion of the National Assembly, allowing for the acceleration of the proposed amendments through parliament and facing only minimal legislative scrutiny. Its subsequent enactment grants the executive branch expanded, undefined powers, and it has been widely interpreted as a strategic move to legitimize and entrench Déby’s authority.
The minimal number of opposition lawmakers present, however, boycotted the vote, describing it as existing in contravention of the constitution and a breach of the fundamental principle of the rule of law. Proponents argue that the extension of a prime minister’s post from five to seven years, renewable without limit, and the creation of a vice-prime minister post will serve to strengthen institutional stability. In Chad, however, where Déby inherited his late father President Idriss Déby Itno’s position after his 30-year rule marked with corruption and violence, tensions are high with concerns about the emergence of a new political dynasty.
The older Déby’s presidency was marred with controversy, such as failing to oversee efforts to properly eradicate poverty, wasting billions of dollars’ worth of oil reserves in a country that relies heavily on its oil exports, and failing to properly empower Chad’s education system, leaving millions illiterate. The younger Déby promised to rectify the mistakes of his father’s candidacy, yet immediately after his death staged a coup, dissolved the government, exerted military rule, and declared himself president for the next 18 months, a position that he holds to this day. Critics claim that his initial promises of a better presidency are hollow and have been marked by cases of torture, arbitrary arrest or detention of political prisoners, serious restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, and sexual violence, distressing precedents that have raised alarm for the future of Chad in light of his term extension.
Despite being a state party to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which outlines that “any amendment or revision of the constitution … which is an infringement on the principles of democratic change of government” is an “illegal means of … maintaining power,” human rights proponents warn that the backdrop of events in Chad run astray of these obligations.
The post Chad criticized over constitutional amendment extending president’s term limit appeared first on JURIST - News.
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HRW Central Africa Director Lewis Mudge commented on the severity of the issue, stating: “By removing presidential term limits, Chad’s authorities have dismantled an important safeguard against authoritarianism.”
The president’s stronghold and political concentration in government were solidified with the finalization of these constitutional reforms back in early October. His ruling party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement patriotique du salut, also known as MPS), dominates a large portion of the National Assembly, allowing for the acceleration of the proposed amendments through parliament and facing only minimal legislative scrutiny. Its subsequent enactment grants the executive branch expanded, undefined powers, and it has been widely interpreted as a strategic move to legitimize and entrench Déby’s authority.
The minimal number of opposition lawmakers present, however, boycotted the vote, describing it as existing in contravention of the constitution and a breach of the fundamental principle of the rule of law. Proponents argue that the extension of a prime minister’s post from five to seven years, renewable without limit, and the creation of a vice-prime minister post will serve to strengthen institutional stability. In Chad, however, where Déby inherited his late father President Idriss Déby Itno’s position after his 30-year rule marked with corruption and violence, tensions are high with concerns about the emergence of a new political dynasty.
The older Déby’s presidency was marred with controversy, such as failing to oversee efforts to properly eradicate poverty, wasting billions of dollars’ worth of oil reserves in a country that relies heavily on its oil exports, and failing to properly empower Chad’s education system, leaving millions illiterate. The younger Déby promised to rectify the mistakes of his father’s candidacy, yet immediately after his death staged a coup, dissolved the government, exerted military rule, and declared himself president for the next 18 months, a position that he holds to this day. Critics claim that his initial promises of a better presidency are hollow and have been marked by cases of torture, arbitrary arrest or detention of political prisoners, serious restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, and sexual violence, distressing precedents that have raised alarm for the future of Chad in light of his term extension.
Despite being a state party to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which outlines that “any amendment or revision of the constitution … which is an infringement on the principles of democratic change of government” is an “illegal means of … maintaining power,” human rights proponents warn that the backdrop of events in Chad run astray of these obligations.
The post Chad criticized over constitutional amendment extending president’s term limit appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.