Honduran prez proposes constitutional vote

Several Latin American countries from Ecuador to Bolivia have held nationwide votes in order to modify their country’s constitutions. Even in nations whose leaders are not populist, constitutional reform has become a hot topic.

Honduran president Manuel Zelaya suggested that his country have a national referendum by June to decide on a constitutional assembly. He did not give specific details as how Honduras’ Magna Carta would be modified though he emphasized yesterday that "substantial and significant changes" were needed to the constitution.

The Honduran government cited that the current constitution formulated in 1982 near the end of military rule does not accurately reflect the “national reality”. Zelaya’s sentiments were not shared by the political opposition who deemed a referendum as illegal:

“The president is mistaken since such a vote...lacks any judicial legality. He can put as many ballot boxes he wants to calculate his popularity but they are null and void. Anyone who dares speaks against the topic risks being in danger by the authorities,” claimed National Congress president Roberto Micheletti. [ ed. – personal translation]

Image- La Tribuna (Image of Honduran president Manuel “Mel” Zelaya).
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, La Prensa, El Heraldo, etaiwannews.com, AP