Honduran judges throw out single-term limit on presidency

[Judi Lynn]

Honduran judges throw out single-term limit on presidency

Ruling revives tensions that led to coup and ouster of Manuel Zelaya six years ago when he sought to change constitution so officeholders could stand again

Associated Press in Tegucigalpa
Friday 24 April 2015 00.22 EDT


[font size=1]
The current Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, would be able to stand for a further term after judges
threw out part of the country’s constitution. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
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The supreme court in Honduras has voided a single-term limit for the country’s presidency — the issue at the heart of the political conflict that led to the ouster of socialist incumbent Manuel Zelaya six years ago when he sought to hold a referendum on rewriting the constitution.

The push by the governing National party to make the change, which would permit President Juan Orlando Hernandez to seek a second term, has drawn widespread criticism from the opposition, which notes the same politicians behind it were involved in the 2009 coup against Zelaya.

Forces that united to remove Zelaya from office, including some members of his own party, had contended he wanted to end the ban on second terms so he could remain in power.

The supreme court initially voted 5-0 on Thursday to strike down the prohibition on presidential re-election but judge Elmer Lizardo, a member of the opposition Liberal party, reversed his vote later in the day.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/24/honduran-judges-throw-out-single-term-limit-on-presidency

[Demeter]

1. Oh, dear, that doesn't sound good

There are very few FDR's or Castros in the world. This sounds like a set up for Dictator for Life.

[Judi Lynn]

3. The tiny elite right-wing, US-supported faction in Honduras wanted a right-winger in office

whenever they went to a new set of rules for re-election.

Remembering it was the Republicans in the US who changed the Presidential history of NO term limits after FDR died in office in his 4th term.

Sure does sound like a Dictator for Life. No one ever mentions the fact Paraguay's Stroessner, right-winger who committed genocide against native Paraguayans, even sold survivors as slaves, ruled for 35 years before being overthrown by another of his Party which ruled for 61 years! All this was hunky-dory with the U.S., apparently, because our own corporate media never bounced itself off the walls excoriating that government, and our own officials never uttered a peep against it.;

Doesn't sound good, absolutely right.

[MisterP]

4. 18 LIBRE candidates killed for 2013

http://www.cepr.net/blogs/the-americas-blog/murders-of-teenagers-and-opposition-party-members-underscore-impunity-in-honduras-and-the-failure-of-us-vetting
http://www.cepr.net/blogs/the-americas-blog/honduras-elections-violent-attacks-against-opposition-candidates-provoke-increasing-concern
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/22/honduras-elections-leftist-party-libre

we just use a "veal pen" in civilized countries

[Judi Lynn]

2. Top Honduran court paves way for presidents to seek re-election

Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:53pm EDT

Top Honduran court paves way for presidents to seek re-election

TEGUCIGALPA


(Reuters) - The Supreme Court of Honduras on Thursday struck down a law that banned presidents from seeking a second term, paving the way for their re-election, a contentious issue at the heart of a coup six years ago.

The decision would allow President Juan Orlando Hernandez to extend his rule, a prospect that opposition parties say is being pushed by ruling National Party leaders.

The unanimous decision from the five-member court was applauded by former President Rafael Callejas, a 71-year-old member of the ruling party who has said he would like to run again.

The fight over presidential reelection led to a bitter political stand-off that ended in a coup against former President Manuel Zelaya in 2009.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/23/us-honduras-reelection-ruling-idUSKBN0NE2TA20150423?rpc=401

(DU'ers may recall a lot of people insisted there was absolutely no coup whatsoever when Zelaya was kidnapped at gun point, forced onto a plane, taken to the US-shared airport base for refueling, and dropped off in Nicaragua while still wearing his pajamas.)