BUJUMBURA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza Sunday signed a decree whereby he said that the referendum of the east African country's constitution will be held on May 17 this year.
"This decree is aimed at inviting Burundian citizens who have registered for the constitutional referendum slated for May 2018 and the 2020 general elections to vote in the constitutional referendum on May 17, 2018," said Nkurunziza in the decree.
The vote in the referendum of the country's constitution will take place in polling stations designated by the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) at the local level and in diplomatic and peacekeeping missions outside Burundi.
Political parties, coalitions of political parties and independent people who are intending to participate in the campaign for the constitutional referendum are requested to register with the CENI from March 23 to April 6, said the decree.
The decree added that the draft constitution will be passed if it is approved by at least 51 percent of voters.
In December 2017, the CENI said the referendum of the east African country's constitution will be held in May.
The CENI said in February that 5,000,742 Burundian citizens had registered for the constitutional referendum and the general elections in the combined registration.
The draft constitution extends the presidential term from five years provided in the 2005 constitution to seven years and allows the president to serve two consecutive terms.
The draft constitution doesn't ban the current president to run again in 2020.
It also provides for the creation of a post of a prime minister and only one vice-president, whereas the 2005 constitution provided for two vice-presidents.
The prime minister will be designated from the ruling party, while the vice-president will come from a different party.
