DRC approves law regulating referendums

The DRC’s National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a law regulating the organisation of referendums, a significant legislative development amid growing political tensions over possible constitutional changes that could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term, according to ChimpReports. The legislation was adopted on Friday, with 346 of the 347 lawmakers participating voting in favour. No legislator opposed the Bill, while one abstained. The vote followed the revision of 13 articles to address observations raised by the Constitutional Court, which had previously declared the legislation consistent with the Constitution but identified provisions requiring reconsideration. Tshisekedi subsequently requested Parliament to re-examine the affected provisions. The National Assembly’s Political, Administrative & Legal Commission reviewed the legislation and reformulated the 13 articles before presenting its report to the plenary. Lawmakers endorsed the amendments before approving the revised legislation. Tshisekedi, who assumed office in January 2019, is serving his second five-year term, which is scheduled to expire in 2028. Article 220 of the Congolese Constitution explicitly prohibits amendments to the number and duration of presidential terms, while Article 218 establishes procedures for constitutional revisions, including approval through a referendum or a three-fifths majority of Parliament sitting in Congress.  The referendum legislation has become controversial because it provides a mechanism for constitutional changes under circumstances described as a major dysfunction of state institutions.

 

Full ChimpReports article