Assoumani seeks second term in office

Parliamentarians in the Comoros have expressed their dissatisfaction with a draft law that allows Union President Azali Assoumani to sidestep a constitutional provision requiring the federal presidency to rotate between the islands, and vie for a second four-year term in elections next year. Under the archipelago's new national constitution, adopted in 2001, the federal presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents of the three islands in the Union: Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. Assoumani, who grabbed power in a military coup in 1999, was elected Union President with 75 percent of the vote in December 2002, and is expected to give way to a presidential candidate from Anjouan in general elections set for April 2006. Chairman of the parliamentary finance committee Abeou Moumeni explained to IRIN: "The constitution does allow the national assembly to draft legislation which dictates just how the rotation should work, but it also makes it very clear that the president of the union may only serve a single four-year term in office. We are all a bit disappointed by this draft bill, because it goes against the spirit of the constitution." Moumeni pointed out that Assoumani would have a "very difficult time" getting the law passed, as the 33-seat federal assembly was dominated by opposition parties, who held 26 seats. "It is unlikely that Assoumani will succeed, because he doesn't have the necessary popular support in the parliament. But what we are really concerned over is that there wasn't any discussion about the issue prior to it being presented to parliament. We are all trying to work together to make sure that we have a political system that is transparent, and it seems as if there are individuals who are trying to sabotage this," he told IRIN. Union spokesman Houmed M'Saidie said the draft law was under discussion and Assoumani would abide by whatever the majority of parliamentarians agreed upon, but noted: "We can't comment on anything because it is just a proposed law. However, the constitution, as it stands, is also up for interpretation." Local political analyst Abdorahim Said Bacar told IRIN it was premature to assess the implications of the draft legislation on political stability in the coup-prone country. "We have to wait and see, but the proposal does not come as a surprise, especially because the new constitution is extremely complex. What we are seeing now is that politicians are taking advantage of the loopholes, to ensure that they remain in power," Bacar commented. The Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since independence from France in 1975.