What's in a term? A presidential term of any other length is just as constitutional when amendments to that effect are passed, now a global trend with momentum. South American and African nations are leading this pack, but even Bill Clinton's impromptu visit to North Korea points to a presidential impulse for more time in the spotlight. Niger will be voting on the issue today.
Over a dozen South American and African countries have either extended re-election limits for their seated presidents or, in the case of Paul Biya of Cameroon and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, abolished them altogether. Among the leaders so endowed now include: Evo Morales (Bolivia, 2009), Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria, 2008), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda, 2006), Idriss Deby (Chad, 2005), Omar Bongo (Gabon, 2003), and Zine Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia, 2002).
Last month's coup in Honduras was over allegations that Manuel Zelaya wouldseek to extend his term. Countries that have recently rejected extending their leaders' terms include Honduras, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia. In the minority of cases, such as Rafael Correa of Ecuador, presidential powers (notably fiscal) have been enhanced along with term extensions.
The majority of term extensions are from one or two terms to three or five. Their motives also range from pragmatic mandates to tenacious traditionalism to pure power perpetuation. Where viable alternatives are lacking, fear of the unknown makes picking a lesser but known evil easier though rarely a firmer guarantee of progress, economic, social or political.
Invariably, more than challenges to the constitutions of these countries individually, such term extensions are together a challenge to constitutionality worldwide. Keeping presidents who do their jobs well in office may be good business sense, but then the basis of government should be profit rather than law.
Extending presidential terms tries to change current events by changing the future first, putting modems before computers. And, as an aside, Bill Clinton's North Korean stunt undermines Hillary's legitimacy as Secretary of State with Obama's apparent blessing, showing there may deep foreign policy issues in the administration.
