Tajikistan invents way of making Rahmon president for life
MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - The Tajik parliament is discussing amendments to the country's constitution, which, among other things, propose to make incumbent President Emomali Rahmon president for life.
A source close to the Tajik parliament told Interfax the authors of the bill suggest adding to Chapter 4 of Article 65 of the Constitution, which is entitled 'President', Part 5 stating that "The restrictions envisaged by Part 4 of this article do not apply to the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation. The legal status and powers of the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation are determined by the constitutional law."
Part 4 of said article of the current Constitution provides that one and the same person cannot be president for more than two terms in a row.
If this amendment is approved, Rahmon will gain the right to nominate himself for the 2020 presidential elections.
Rahmon received Leader of the Nation status after he signed the law On the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation on December 25, 2015. The bill had been approved by both chambers of the Tajik parliament.