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Over 100 Republic of Congo parties support constitutional amendment

Xinhua, January 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Over 100 pro-government political parties, associations and non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Congo Tuesday signed a declaration in Brazzaville supporting amendment of the country's Constitution.

"Aware of the particular circumstances that led to the adoption of the current Constitution in 2002, having observed its weaknesses in terms of neutralizing governmental powers and not having taken into account environmental protection as well as the notion of gender equality, we the political parties, associations and individuals meeting here today wish to call for its amendment, " the statement said.

The statement urged the entire Congolese political class to maintain peace and stability, while appealing for all measures to be taken to create an ideal environment for national dialogue.

Speaking during the forum, the interim chairman of the presidential majority camp Pierre Ngolo who is also the secretary of the ruling Congo Labour Party, urged everyone to support the push for a new Constitution and a new Republic that meets the demands of the contemporary environment.

"The push for constitutional amendment by the presidential parties is not meant to help an individual keep power, but it is in the interest of consolidating our democracy in the long term," he said.

The proposal for constitutional amendment has not been well received by opposition parties which have argued that it is meant to allow President Denis Sassou N'Guesso to contest for a third term.

To demonstrate their total opposition to the idea of changing the Constitution, on Thursday last week the opposition parties signed in Brazzaville a declaration in which they firmly opposed any amendment of the current Constitution.

The 2002 Constitution limits presidential terms to two, each for seven years. It also sets a 70 year age limit for presidential candidates.

The current president, Sassou N'Guesso, is aged 71 and was elected on the basis of this Constitution in 2002 before being re- elected in 2009 for the final term that ends in August 2016. Endi