By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
SANA’A, Yemen – As debate over the latest amendments to Yemen’s constitution begin this week, the country’s parliament announced its support for amendments which would eliminate term limitations on the country’s presidency. Although a formal vote on the amendment will not occur until later this year, the amendment represents a significant reversal of democratic freedom in Yemen. Saturday’s symbolic preliminary vote was protested by some in the international community however, the amendment received support from 170 members of the President’s General People’s Congress (GPC) party.
Yemen’s current electoral rules limit the amount of time one may serve as President to two consecutive terms. The proposed amendment would eliminate this restriction but would reduce the President’s term from seven years to five. Current President Ali Abdullah Saleh is currently serving his second term as the country’s President until its expiration in 2013. Should the amendment pass, President Saleh may be able to rule for life.
The amendments come at a time when the government is fighting a bloody campaign against al-Qaeda cells within the country. Some leaders within the GPC have used the conflict to justify ending presidential term limits. Sultan al-Barakani, head of the GPC stated that “stability of the country necessitates that he [President Saleh] should stay in power.” President Salah, a long time U.S. ally, has been given political and material support by the U.S. in its fight against al-Qaeda, but the proposed amendments threaten to cool relations between the two countries.
Supporters of the constitutional amendments responded to calls by the United States and others to delay the vote, calling these demands foreign interference with Yemen’s sovereignty. Proponents also highlight the progressive benefits of the reforms which would increase parliamentary seats for women. Critics of the amendments however, fear that eliminating presidential term limits might increase tensions between the ruling party, minority parties and militant groups in the country. Ali Acshal, a member of the Islamist Al-Islah (Reform) Party warned that the amendment “will result in a complete break between the north and south and will destroy any hope of partnership.” Ali Abed Rabbo al-Qadi, a prominent leader in parliament noted that “[i]f the ruling party goes ahead with these amendments…it will cause disorder in the country and open it up to foreign interference.” Despite these warnings, officials of the President’s ruling GPC party expressed their commitment to pushing the constitutional reforms through parliament. A finalized version of the proposed amendments will be ready within 60 days.
For more information, please see:
Global Arab Network – Yemen Rejects US Demand to Delay Constitutional Amendments – Jan. 2, 2011
Agence France Presse – Yemen Adopts Principle of Constitutional Amendment – Jan. 1, 2011
Bloomberg – Saleh Gains Preliminary Yemeni Approval to End Term Limits – Jan. 1, 2011
CNN World – Yemen Begins Debating Constitutional Reforms – Jan. 1, 2011
