Liberia: Sen. Chie Proposes Constitutional Review to Reduce Presidential and Other Tenures

Monrovia – Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie has called for a revision of several provisions in the 1986 Liberian Constitution, proposing amendments to be considered at a national referendum. 

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By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]

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The proposed changes aim to reduce the tenure of elected officials, including the President, Senators, and members of the House of Representatives.

In a communication presented to the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Senator Chie outlined eight key provisions he believes should be amended to align with the evolving needs of the nation. These changes, he argues, would improve governance and reflect the will of the Liberian people.

The proposed amendments include:

• Article 28: To address dual citizenship, ensuring that natural-born citizens’ citizenship rights are inalienable.
• Article 45: To reduce the term of Senators from nine years to seven.
• Article 47: To adjust the term of the President Pro Tempore and other Senate officers to five years.
• Article 48: To shorten the term of members of the House of Representatives from six years to five.
• Article 49: To limit the terms of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other officers of the House of Representatives to five years.
• Article 50: To reduce the President’s term from six years to five.
• Article 83(a): To move the date of general elections from the second Tuesday in October to the second Tuesday in November.
• Article 83(c): To reduce the timeframe for resolving election-related complaints from 30 days to 15.

Senator Chie’s proposal follows a previous referendum held on December 8, 2020, in which similar constitutional amendments received majority support but failed to meet the two-thirds threshold required by Article 91 of the 1986 Constitution. As a result, those proposed changes were not enacted.

The Senator emphasized the importance of reviewing these provisions again to facilitate a national referendum. “I request that Plenary review the proposed amendments, make the necessary adjustments, and begin the process towards a national referendum, in line with Article 91 of the Constitution,” he stated.

Furthermore, Senator Chie urged the Senate to ensure that a well-funded and comprehensive preparatory process, including extensive voter education, is put in place ahead of the referendum. 

This, he believes, will ensure that the Liberian people are fully informed about the changes being proposed.

The proposal is now under review by the Senate, with hopes that it will lead to a broader discussion on constitutional reforms and the enhancement of democratic governance in Liberia.