The National Assembly has recieved a bill demanding the extension of the mandate of Members of Paliamnet and Municipal Councillors in the country.
This follows a request from the President of the Republic after consultations with the President of the Constitutional Council and the bureau of the National Assembly and Senate.
The bill submitted by Government is demanding a two month prolongation of the tenure of MPs and Municipal Councillors. In line with Article 15(4) of Law No 96/06 of 16th January 1996, the required consultations have been made and their proposals have been submitted to Paul Biya, the President of the Republic.
According to the bill, this second extension is required to enable the regular holding of the Ordianry session in November dedicated to the adoption of the State Budget and to also take into account the different legal delays in the constitution concerning the electoral code for a better harmonisation that will guarantee the holding of the twin Municipal and Legislative elections which has been a tradition since 2007.
As usual legislators are expected to give a quick YES to the bill that might encounter timid opposition. It is now likely elections will hold by March 2020 when the Head of state promulgates the bill.
According to Elvis Ngole Ngole, Political Scientist and Coordinator of the ruling party’s CPDM Academy, the move is guarded by the constitution. But, Denis Nkemlemo of the SDF has lamented that, elections cannot hold when the country is battling a fierce separatist crisis in the North West and South West regions.
The Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with the Assembly will defend the bill in the days ahead.
By Nsoesie Peter
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