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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Honduras president rejects high court order to reinstate fired military leader

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] Honduran President Manuel Zelaya rejected a Supreme Court decision Thursday that called for the reinstatement of a military general whom Zelaya fired Wednesday. Zelaya's decision comes amidst a controversy over a referendum on constitutional change scheduled for Sunday at which the president hopes to gain supporters for drafting a new constitition. Zelaya fired General Romeo Vasquez, who served as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after learning that the military was not supporting his referendum and refused to distribute the ballots. Although Zelaya claims that the constitution currently favors the rich and elite, opponents maintain that the purpose of the change is to allow him to stay in power. The electoral tribunal, Supreme Court, and Parliament are against Zelaya's initiative, claiming that the change would be unconstitutional. The National Congress approved a motion on Thursday to form a committee to investigate Zelaya's actions, receiving unanimous support from all four parties holding a congressional bench. One lawmaker claimed that Zelaya's intention to stay in power has long been known in the country. Absent a change allowing him to run for re-election, Zelaya's term ends in 2010. In March, Zelaya announced that he would conduct a poll to determine the public receptiveness to the referendum. Under his leadership, Honduras has joined Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua in the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) trade bloc, which was founded by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. In recent years, Chavez and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa have succeeded in passing constitutional reforms extending presidential terms and enhancing presidential powers.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on June 26, 2009 (boomark / email).