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Cameroon: Constitutional Amendment To Enhance Democracy
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
14 April 2008
Posted to the web 14 April 2008
Emmanuel KENDEMEH
The Members of the National Assembly during a plenary sitting on Thursday, 10 April 2008 adopted 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.
The Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Hamidou Yaya defended the bill at Thursday's plenary sitting just, as he did when the Constitutional Laws Committee of the National Assembly scrutinised it. What remains after the adoption of the bill in Parliament, is for the President of the Republic to promulgate it into law. Posterity will forever remember the amendment for the innovations the bill has introduced in the advancement of the democratic process in Cameroon. Some of the key innovations are highlighted below.
President's term of office
- Limitless
Article 6 paragraph 2 of the law of 18 January 1996 to amend the constitution of 2 June 1972, provided that the President of the Republic is elected for a seven -year term of office renewable once. The government bill adopted in Parliament last 10 April 2008, states that, "The President of the Republic shall be elected for a seven-year term of office. He shall be eligible for re-election".
Vacancy of office of President
- Elections latest 120 days
Article 6 paragraph 4 in the law of January 1996 provided 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 adopted on Thursday states that, "Where the office of the President becomes vacant as result of death, resignation or permanent incapacity duly ascertained by the Constitutional Council, the polls for the election of the new President of the Republic must be held not less than 20 days ad not more than 120days after the office becomes vacant".
Modification of government
- Amend composition
The bill adopted in Parliament in Article 6 paragraph 4 (b) states, " The interim President of the Republic- the President of the Senate or his Vice- may neither amend the Constitution nor the composition of the government. He may not organise a referendum or run for the office of President of the Republic".
Paragraph 4 (c) states, " However, where the organisation of the presidential election so requires, the interim President of the Republic may, after consultation with the Constitutional Council, amend the composition of government".
Constitutional Council
- Renewable
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In article 51, of the adopted bill states that, "The Constitutional Council shall comprise 11 members designated for an eventually renewable term of office of six years".
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