A New Constitution In Mali: Towards A Strengthening Of The Presidential Powers

The Malian opposition fears that the constitutional revision will reinforce the powers of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The draft new Constitution was adopted by the Malian deputies by 111 votes to 30, late on the night of 2nd to 3rd June. It paves the way for the creation of a Senate and strengthens, according to the opposition, the powers of the President.

The debates ended around 3 am on Saturday 3rd June. This is the significance of this revision of the Constitution which had not evolved since 1992. The peace agreement provides for the establishment of a Senate and therefore the creation of a National Assembly composed of two chambers.

It is now done, but the opposition members are upright, particularly against one of the provisions voted on Saturday morning. It allows the President of the Republic to appoint a third of the senators. The other two-thirds would be elected. "  A way to further strengthen the powers of the president," said the opposition.

For its part, the majority wants to be reassuring: "The Constitution is one thing, but the concrete applications are defined by laws", explains the deputy Tdji Doumbia. Legislation that could thus frame the appointment of this third of senators.

The basis of this measure is to enable customary, traditional or regional authorities to have a fully democratic role. But in practice, up to the present and until the drafting of a framework law, the president can appoint whoever he wants, without having to justify it. This revision of the Constitution must also be adopted by the Malian people, in a referendum that will take place on 9th July.