About The Constitutional Amendments [Archives:2000/36/Focus]

Jalal Al-Sharaabi
Yemen Times
As usual and without any preludes, constitutional amendments are approved to mainly satisfy the ruler’s whims and desires. It may be unbelievable by any political analysts or even the ordinary citizen to learn that 83 articles of the Yemeni constitution are proposed to be amended in coincidence with that orientation.
Certain behaviors have become of no surprise to many common people who have got used to such decisions. The unity, the constitution, the constitutional referendum, the civil war, separation declaration, economic reform and doses, all have happened without prior logical and clear introductions.
We have to admit that such a parliament is no longer a legislative body carrying out its duties and powers.
Many MPs are, in fact, no more than henchmen voting in favor of the majority they are affiliated with. The others forget and ignore all tall promises and commitments to people’s rights when alliances are concluded between their parties and the ruling party.
Extension of parliamentary term and giving more powers to the Consultative council are not the main motivation behind the new amendments as it is claimed. Extension of presidency tenure is the quintessence of the whole drama.
Amending the constitution is not easy a task in democratic countries. It is rather done through clear constitutional frameworks.
They use their own ways to accommodate the constitution according to their interests, said an opposition leader. Opposition parties’ mechanisms seem to have seen better days. Their reactions have been confined to statements rejecting what has been happening without trying to analyze what, why it’s happened and what results are to be followed.
Constitutional amendments are related in the first place to local political events and the balance of political forces.
The whole plot reflects a desire to move in the reverse course for the sake of the longest term at office, either by making parliament demand extension of presidency term or by a forced public choice.


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