How are office terms counted after the new Constitution entered into force?
On July 7, 2026, the Constitutional Court explained that holding the relevant office under the 1995 Constitution does not itself prevent a new election or appointment. For limits in the new Constitution, an election or appointment after July 1, 2026 is treated as the first.
What the Constitutional Court Decided
In ruling No. 89-NP of July 7, 2026, the Court gave an official interpretation of Articles 43, 72, 83, and 84 of the new Constitution.
- Terms and appointments under the 1995 Constitution do not automatically count as a first term for limits under the 2026 Constitution.
- Prior service in the relevant office does not itself create a constitutional bar to election or appointment after July 1, 2026.
- An election or appointment after the new Constitution entered into force is treated as the first for applying the new limits.
Who the Interpretation Covers
The ruling concerns offices expressly named in the provisions reviewed: the President, the Chair and judges of the Constitutional Court, the Chair of the Supreme Court, and the Prosecutor General.
What the Ruling Does Not Do
It does not appoint specific people or automatically extend anyone's powers. Every election or appointment must still follow the procedure established by the Constitution and legislation.
Basis for this explainer
Constitutional provisions and primary sources supporting this explanation.
Constitutional provisions
Primary sources
Open sources the editorial team used to verify this explainer. Checked 16 July 2026.
Related articles
Quick links to the constitutional articles behind this explainer.