Today’s article focuses on three events that made the news during last week. These are the Chief Justice’s ruling on Presidential term limit; the amendment to Article 222A of the Constitution to provide for the financial autonomy of certain constitutional agencies; and the enactment of new legislation on former Presidents’ benefits.
Chief Justice ruling on Presidential term limit
Last Friday, the Chief Justice ruled that the presidential term limit imposed by the 2001 amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution is unconstitutional unless it is approved by the citizens in a referendum. That article states that: (a) a person who acceded to the Presidency after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once; and (b) a person who acceded to the Presidency after the year 2000 and served therein on a single occasion for less than such period as may be determined by the National Assembly, is eligible for election as President only once.
The Chief Justice ruled that the approval of the people through a referendum is needed for placing term limits on the Presidency and that the 2001 constitutional amendment is invalid and without legal effect. In his ruling, the Chief Justice referred Article 164 (2)(a) of the