Chadian Lawmakers Vote to Extend Presidential Term and Lift Limits

By: Chidozie Nwali

Chad’s National Assembly has overwhelmingly endorsed constitutional revisions that would extend the presidential term from five to seven years and remove any limits on the number of times a president can serve. The bill was approved on Monday by a near-unanimous vote of 171 to one, with no abstentions.

This latest action is seen as a move for the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), to further consolidate power, with the  proposed changes, which now head to the Senate for formal adoption on October 13, marking  a significant shift from the constitution adopted just a year prior in December 2023.

That constitution had introduced a one-time renewable five-year term limit. The new bill would not only increase the term length but also grant the president the ability to seek an unlimited number of seven-year mandates.

According to a draft of the constitutional reform, presented by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), other key provisions include:

• A new position of Deputy Prime Minister: This would be a newly created role within the government.

• Increased accountability for government officials: The bill removes immunity for government members, making them accountable to ordinary courts for economic and financial crimes committed while in office.

• Extension of parliamentary terms: The term for members of parliament would be extended from five to six years.

This constitutional maneuvering comes after a period of political transition following the death of long-serving President Idriss Déby in 2021. His son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was declared transitional president and subsequently won the May 2024 presidential election.

The republic of Chad is an oil-producing country, and one of the poorest countries in the world; with a GDP of $20.63 billion and crude oil contributes 30% to the landlocked  West African country.