Cameroon's President Paul Biya, the world's oldest leader, is set to get a vice-president for the first time in his four-decade rule following controversial constitutional changes backed by parliament. Should anything now happen to Biya, 93, the vice-president will automatically step in and complete the term before a new election is held. The position was scrapped in 1972. In recent years the leader of the senate was expected to act as president but only until a fresh election was arranged.
The opposition said the amendments were hastily drafted and aimed at consolidating power. Even one senator from Biya's party described the process as suspicious. There has been frequent private speculation about the state of Biya's health, but openly discussing it is taboo, and he has always defied rumors of his death by appearing in public after long absences.
A joint sitting of both houses of parliament passed the bill changing the constitution, with 200 lawmakers voting in favor, 18 against and four abstaining. Supporters said the bill would enhance government efficiency as it would elevate the level of representation whenever an official is required to stand in for the president. It would also lift the burden of succession from the Senate to enable it to focus on its legislative functions.
Prior to the amendment, the constitution designated the leader of the Senate to briefly take over in case the sitting president dies or is incapacitated. An election would then be held. The approved bill now stipulates that the vice-president - appointed by the president rather than elected - will become the head of state to serve out the rest of the seven-year term.
The Social Democratic Front (SDF) party boycotted the vote. It had pushed for a revision in favor of the vice-president being jointly elected with the president. The SDF also sought a constitutional provision that reflects the linguistic split between English and French-speaking regions. The party wanted the nation's top two posts to be shared between Cameroon's two communities.
Biya's long time in power, which began in November 1982, has sparked a debate about his succession. Despite the move to reinstate the vice-president position, the future of Cameroon beyond Biya remains uncertain. The president won an eighth term in power last October with 53.7% of the vote in an election that the opposition said was rigged.
The opposition said the amendments were hastily drafted and aimed at consolidating power. Even one senator from Biya's party described the process as suspicious. There has been frequent private speculation about the state of Biya's health, but openly discussing it is taboo, and he has always defied rumors of his death by appearing in public after long absences.
A joint sitting of both houses of parliament passed the bill changing the constitution, with 200 lawmakers voting in favor, 18 against and four abstaining. Supporters said the bill would enhance government efficiency as it would elevate the level of representation whenever an official is required to stand in for the president. It would also lift the burden of succession from the Senate to enable it to focus on its legislative functions.
Prior to the amendment, the constitution designated the leader of the Senate to briefly take over in case the sitting president dies or is incapacitated. An election would then be held. The approved bill now stipulates that the vice-president - appointed by the president rather than elected - will become the head of state to serve out the rest of the seven-year term.
The Social Democratic Front (SDF) party boycotted the vote. It had pushed for a revision in favor of the vice-president being jointly elected with the president. The SDF also sought a constitutional provision that reflects the linguistic split between English and French-speaking regions. The party wanted the nation's top two posts to be shared between Cameroon's two communities.
Biya's long time in power, which began in November 1982, has sparked a debate about his succession. Despite the move to reinstate the vice-president position, the future of Cameroon beyond Biya remains uncertain. The president won an eighth term in power last October with 53.7% of the vote in an election that the opposition said was rigged.
