Ivorian opposition members to hit the streets against new constitution

The Ivorian opposition has called for a demonstration on Thursday against the new government-proposed constitution.

A group of opposition leaders are demanding a full withdrawal of the new draft constitution which will be voted for in a referendum on October 30.

“We call for a demonstration on Thursday to refuse the humiliation of the people,” a former president of the National Assembly, Koulibaly, said at a press conference on Monday surrounded by opposition leaders including Aboudramane Sangaré of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), former minister Danielle Boni Claverie, former presidential candidate Konan Kouadio Simeon.

Sangare described the new constitution as “disastrous and dangerous” while projecting a social breakdown if it is adopted.

They unanimously called on the president to be “wise by withdrawing his draft constitution”.

Main Ivorian opposition party, Alliance of Democratic Forces Ivory Coast (AFD-CI), and its allies last Friday called for a boycott of the referendum vote on October 30.

President Ouattara has said that the new constitution will turn the page of the country by ending the crisis that have shaken the country.

The new constitution creates the position of vice president who will be elected at the same time as the president and the senate which one third of members will be appointed by the president.

It also a new term for the president which will be five years and renewable once. It also removes the maximum age limit of 75 years to be a candidate and provides that the president is re-elected only once.