Emmanuel Kendemeh
7 April 2008
The government bill to amend and supplement some provisions of the law N° 96/6 of 18 January 1996 to amend the constitution of 2 June 1972, was tabled during a plenary sitting of the National Assembly last Friday, 4 March 2008. The innovations concern articles 6, 14, 15, 51, 53 and 67.
President's term of office:
Article 6 paragraph 2 of the 1996 constitution provided that the President of the Republic is elected for a seven -year term of office renewable once. The bill government tabled in Parliament on Friday proposes that the President of the Republic be elected for a seven-year term of office but the incumbent is eligible for re-election.
Presidential election in case of vacancy:
Article 6 paragraph 4 of the 1996 constitution provides that in case the office of the President of the Republic becomes vacant, the election of the new President has to be organised in not less than 20 days and not more than 40 days. The bill tabled in Parliament proposes that the time frame for the election of the new President of the Republic in case of vacancy, should be not less than 20 days and not more than 120 days after the office becomes vacant.
Ordinary sessions of Parliament:
Article 14 paragraph 3 (a) of the 1996 Constitution provides that Parliament meets in ordinary session in the months of March, June and November each legislative year. The innovation government has tabled in Parliament takes the Senate into consideration. The amendment proposed is that both Parliament and the Senate shall meet on the same dates.
Members of National Assembly:
In Article 15 paragraph 4, the government has proposed that the new time frame for the election of a new Assembly in case of serious crisis necessitating the extension or abridgement of the term of office of Members of the National Assembly. Such an election has to take place not less than 20 days and not more than 120 days following the expiry of the extension or abridgement period. This is an innovation from the time frame in the 1996 constitution which is not less than 20 days and not more than 40 days.
Constitutional Council:
In article 51, the government has proposed the harmonisation of the term of office of members of the Constitutional Council with those of other State elected or designated organs. The term of office drops from nine years to six years non-renewable.
Court of Impeachment:
Article 53 paragraph 1 proposes that the Court of Impeachment shall have jurisdiction, in respect of acts committed in their exercise of the their functions to try: the President of the Republic for high treason; the Prime Minister, members of government and persons ranking as such and senior government officials to whom powers have been delegated for conspiracy against the security of the State. Paragraph 2 of the same article proposes that the President of the Republic shall be indicted only by the National Assembly and the Senate.
Election of Senators:
The government in Article 67 paragraph 6 proposes that the electoral college for the election of Senators where the Senate is put in place before the Regions shall be exclusively Municipal Councillors.
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My heart beats as I have had no sleep since I read about the move made by the government in introducing the bill on constitutional ammendment. Can we be serious for once? Why is it that president Biya with all what he has gathered from the nation wants now to throw it into a civil war? He has all the wealth to escape with his entire village and fund their living in a foreign land till the end of his days but let him know that even super wealthy ex-presidents like Mobutu of Congo(ZAIRE) couldn't turn back the hands of time.
I remember the very first proposals for president Biya to stay in power for life was first made public in a Mezam CPDM section meeting in which the Fonjidams and Achu were present. Why should all this come from just you my brothers? Biya may be very powerful counting on the support of the military but mark you, when the U S invaded Iraq 5 years ago they easily reached Bagdhad, but what is the situation today? Your guess can be as good as mine. I think if you should sample the opinion of Iraqis today they would tell you they would have prefered Saddam than the situation at the moment.
President Biya should as well know that he has made many enemies for himself with the recent and past arrests of his closest collaborators.His purges are very similar to those of Stalin in Russia and Hitler in Germany, if not why would he allow people to steal only for him to have them sent to jail? What about he himself? Who is bold enough to testify against him now that he is in power? So that is just one reason why his likes are there to support him but he should know, "what kills cocoa can also kill coffee" He did it to Ahidjo even after his death his family still feels the pains. He might die soon but what about his relatives he is endangering? Some of them are so egoistic to the point that they even don't consider their relatives after their departure. And even the church services they do attend , does it really ring a bell in their minds? Or they have been blinded by the operation of the devil that Heaven ends here. God forbid I think Cameroonians should be on the alert now because it is echoed here in the diaspora that anything can happen .Cameroon is a time atomic bomb whose detonation can be very catastrophic. Mind you we have more than 10 army generals who will each differ with one another in any operation Count not on western countries, their desire is to se this happen so they can test their new technology and start the new colonisation. Who says China ,The US ,Germany ,France or even Iran is not interested in taking command of our economy? Lets see beyond the horizon enough is enough. God bless Cameroon MacPaul (Beijing)China.
Country People, So it was true? I thought Biya and co. were playing their usual cards.Yes, the bill about the ammendment of article 6/2 has been tabled and so the declaration of uncertainty of this peace loving nation has been tabled.Cameroonians are not watching it with closed eyes nor sitting down.In science we say actions and reactions are equal in magnitude but opposite in directions.The action here is towards the National Assembly and the reaction will be perpendicular to the point of action.Yes, perpendicular nationwide. "How foolish shall we be fooooolish if we keep being foooooooolish".However, a foolish-man knows his way and the way is on the way. Brothers and sisters, let me keep my tears and mourn when we bury the nation for to me it is already dead.My tears will and hopefully will bring it back to life in one way or another.Extend my warm regards to Biya and co. Your country-man.
either CPDM or OPPOSITION the so called law makers in cameroon should knwo that they will not only kill the poor peasants but their own children if they swallow the bait President Biya is temting them with .It is only when his colleague disagree with him that we know the person is corrupt.The house should ask him of the money he recover from his ANTI-CORRUPTION war and where is the CRUDE OIL ACCOUNT for cameroon?
Mr Paul Biya and his MPS should be aware of the strike last month before taking decision on constitutional amendments.Mr Biya you should be 100% times ashame of your self to suggest that you will not be taking to court even when you step down,considering the fact that cameroon is a peaceful country,how can the president of a peaceful country be taken to court?"IDIOT". I want to sound the last warning to the hand clappers so call MPS that they should know that while in YAounde your families are with us here back at home and incase of any blunder we'll begin with them.This time we are well prepared for you people and your families.we know that Mr Biya will buy you up to vote infavour of the tabled bills but to be candid with you "YOU WILL NOT ENJOY THE MONEY WITH YOUR FAMILIES" This time we are well prepared for you since we have sworn to destroy our future with your president. Mr Biya we urge you to emulate Nelson Mandela and stop been deceived by those bullucks you call them your advisers. consider this note as a matter of urgency or else you will have your self to blame because what happened to Samuel Doh of liberia awaits you. conclusively we wish you a happy welcome to the International Court of Justice for your trial in Rwanda. God bless you and your MPS