Presidential Term Limits in Africa and Latin America: Contested but Resilient

Abstract: Today, the great majority of African and Latin American countries have presidential term limits inscribed in their constitutions. Yet, Bolivia's Evo Morales and Guinea's Alpha Condé are only recent examples of incumbents trying to extend their time in office - and of the acute political conflicts that follow from these bold moves. A presidential term limit is the constitutional rule that restricts the number of terms that the president of a given state may serve. In presidential systems, such limits are a key check on the power of the incumbent. Their goal is to constrain personalism, prevent power abuse, and to promote party competition and alternation in power. In practice, term limits have not always been an effective instrument to stop the president from taking office again and again. Since the 1990s, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa have been hit by an amendment fever that today accumulates to about 60 approved reforms and additional failed attempts. Term limits have been

Object Details

• Alternative title: Präsidentielle Amtszeitbeschränkungen in Afrika und Lateinamerika: Umkämpft, aber unverwüstbar
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource, 12 S.
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: GIGA Focus Global ; Bd. 1

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (who): SSOAR, GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften e.V.
• (when): 2020
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Hamburg
• (who): GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies - Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien
• (when): 2020
• Creator: Heyl, Charlotte ; Llanos, Mariana
• Contributor: GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies - Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-66250-7
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 25.03.2025, 1:53 PM CET