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Honduras Contemplates
Constitutional Changes
Havana Historian to Guatemala
Honduras
Contemplates Constitutional Changes
The president
of Honduras is moving ahead with plans for a
nationwide poll on whether to change the
constitution over the objections of the
attorney general's office, a top government
official said Thursday.
President Manuel Zelaya says the 1982
constitution needs to be updated, and he
wants the nation to vote on the issue in a
public-opinion poll in June. If approved, a
binding vote would be held in November.
But the attorney general office's said
Wednesday that the president has no
authority to call for changing the charter.
It also warned that if the vote is held,
government officials could face charges and
up to 10 years in jail.
Enrique Flores, the president's legal
adviser, said Thursday that the opinion poll
is aimed at improving democracy.
"We aren't afraid of going to jail for
defending the people and our ideas," he
said. "And no one and nothing can stop
this."
Interior Minister Victor Meza also
criticized the independent attorney
general's office.
"It is dangerous when state institutions
succumb to politics, weakening the rule of
law and corrupting institutions," he said.
Under Honduran law, Congress must call for a
constitutional assembly to change the
constitution. But the current Congress
opposes changing the document.
Zelaya has not said what changes he might
propose in a new constitution. Recent
reforms promoted by other Latin American
leaders have expanded presidential powers
and eased bans on re-election.
Zelaya's four-year term ends in early 2010
and current law requires him to step down.
General elections are scheduled for
November. |
