A constitutional referendum was held in the
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
on 20 January 2002, with results showed over 87% voted in favour with a voter turnout of 77.5%.
Background
The proposed new constitution would make the country a
presidential republic. It had been written in 2001 and approved by a
National Transitional Council in 2002 before being put to a referendum.
Changes from the old constitution increased presidential terms to seven years and abolished the post of
Prime Minister.
It established a
bicameral legislature
Bicameralism is a type of legislature, one divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single grou ...
and instituted several requirements in order to be able to stand for President.
The government described the referendum as paving the way for elections and welcomed the results.
However the opposition urged that voters
boycott
A boycott is an act of nonviolent, voluntary abstention from a product, person, organization, or country as an expression of protest. It is usually for moral, social, political, or environmental reasons. The purpose of a boycott is to inflict som ...
the referendum as they said that the new constitution would give too much power to the
President.
[ Human rights groups said that the referendum, which took place without international observers, had seen irregularities.][
]
Results
References
External links
Results by region
{{Republic of the Congo elections
2002 referendums
Referendums in the Republic of the Congo
2002 in the Republic of the Congo
Constitutional referendums in the Republic of the Congo