Capitol Hill, Monrovia – President George M. Weah’s proposed changes to the Constitution of Liberia may have gotten two-third signatures by the Legislature and paved the way for a referendum.
However, several lawmakers, including the three representatives of River Gee County refused to affix their signatures for the passage of the proposition that calls for dual citizenship.
During its 24th day sitting of the House of Representatives’ extraordinary session, the Plenary of the House concurred with the Senate to allow a referendum for changes to the Constitution.
The changes, when voted upon, will affect dual citizenship, reduction of the tenures of President, Vice President and members of the Legislature.
One of the three propositions that have been approved for amendments through a referendum is the clause that allows dual citizenship. Article 28 of the Constitution prohibits dual citizenship.
However, the proposition is seeking to cancel the clause to allow natural born Liberians who are citizens of other countries to be citizens Liberia. The law also seeks for them to be elected to certain positions.
The Proposition, as passed by the Senate states: “Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the person’s birth, shall be a natural-born citizen of Liberia; a natural-born citizen’s right to citizenship of Liberia is inherent and inalienable; no law shall be enacted or regulation promulgated which deprives a natural born of the Republic of his/her citizenship right; and any law or regulation which alienates or deprives a natural born of the Republic of his/her citizen right is null and void.
A natural born citizen of Liberia may hold the citizenship of another country, but shall not qualify for elected positions and the following appointed positions: Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia; Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers; all heads of Autonomous Commissions, Agencies and Non-Academic/Research/Scientific Institutions and Ambassadors.
But the version passed by the House of Representatives qualifies a natural born citizen of Liberia who may hold the citizenship of another country to hold an elected position, but not including that of President, Vice President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Liberia Senate.
Representative Francis Dopoh of River Gee County District #3, voicing his opposition to the clause stated that if passed, the law have the propensity to create a constitutional crisis.
He contended that it is possible for all of the lawmakers to hold dual citizenship, and if that happens, there may be a constitutional crisis as none of them will be eligible for the Speakership or President Pro Tempore position.
He said once a naturalized citizen has been qualified to be elected as lawmaker, nothing should stop said person from becoming a Speaker or President Pro Tempore.
“Either you allow them to be Speaker or don’t allow them to be elected at all,” he said while expressing his opposition in plenary.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica, Rep. Dopoh stated that as both Houses have concurred and pending the President’s signature, all he and his fellow River Gee Caucus members at the House of Representatives can do now is to go back to the their respective districts and inform the constituents about their stand taken.
However, Rep. Larry Younquoi (Nimba County District #8) has welcome the Legislature’s decision.
Rep. Younquoi stated if the law is passed, several Liberians, who have obtained citizens in other countries but still continue to contribute to the economy through remittances and other means will be relieved.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dopoh has welcome the other two propositions reducing the tenures of elected officials and changing the election date.
Members of the 54th Legislature yielded to President’s Weah’s advice to amend Articles 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 of the Constitution to reduce the tenures of the President and Vice President to a five year terms, allowing them to seek reelection for a second-term.
The term of the House of Representatives is reduced to five years, but can unceasingly seek reelections. The term of the Senate is also reduced to seven years, but can also unceasingly seek reelection. The Speaker and the President Pro Tempore can be elected once every five years.
The House also concurred with the Liberian Senate to amend Article 83 (c) of the Constitution, which called for the date of election to be changed from the second Tuesday in October to the second Tuesday in November of each election year.
Also, the Legislature has changed the number of days of complaint, from 30 to 15 days, for the Elections Commission to receive complaints, conduct an impartial investigation and render a decision which may involve a dismissal of the complaint or a nullification of the election of a candidate.
The amendment, however, did not change the seven days of appeal that any political party or independent candidate might be affected by decision from the Elections Commission to the Supreme Court.