Liberians have rejected plans to shorten presidential terms and to allow dual citizenship, the country’s electoral commission said Thursday, announcing referendum results delayed for months over allegations of fraud.<\/p>\n
The West African nation went to the polls in mid-December for a constitutional referendum proposed by President George Weah, 54, who had argued against politicians staying in office for too long.<\/p>\n
But his proposal for presidents and lower house lawmakers to serve five years instead of six, and for senators to serve seven years instead of nine, sparked suspicion in Liberia.<\/p>\n
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At a press conference in the capital Monrovia on Thursday, the head of Liberia’s National Elections Commission, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, announced that none of the propositions had passed.<\/p>\n
While all had received over 50 percent of the votes, a two-thirds majority was required for them to pass.<\/p>\n
About 54 percent of voters were in favour of reducing the presidential terms, against about 46 percent who opposed the move.<\/p>\n
The December referendum also asked voters whether to lift a controversial ban on dual nationality — a move some hoped could propel investments in the poor nation of 4.8 million people.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of Liberians are thought to reside overseas, having fled war and poverty.<\/p>\n
But if they acquire another nationality they are barred from owning property at home, among other restrictions.<\/p>\n
Liberia’s electoral commission said that this proposition also failed, with only 51.5 percent of voters in favour of lifting the ban, and 48.5 opposed.<\/p>\n
The final referendum results were not published for months because votes in some areas of the country were delayed because of reported violence and allegations of fraud.<\/p>\n