The 1977 constitution (text (in French)) proposed by the government of Ali Soilih was approved by only 55 percent of voters in an October 1977 referendum.
[1] After taking office, Ahmed Abdallah consolidated power, beginning with the writing of a new constitution, approved in 1978 (text (in French)).
[6] The amendment also diminished the status of Ali Mroudjae, the erstwhile prime minister and a likely future candidate for president.
[7] Another 1985 amendment took away many of the powers of the president of the National Assembly, including his right to become interim head of state in the event of the incumbent's death.
[8] The official result of the referendum was a 92.5 percent majority in favor of the amendments proposed by Abdallah, which now created "the conditions for a life presidency," warned one opposition leader.
[10] The forty-two members of the "lower" house, the Federal Assembly, represented electoral wards for four-year terms.
[10] The post of prime minister was held by a member of the party holding a majority of seats in the Federal Assembly.
[10] As a federal republic, Comoros assigned autonomy to the three constituent islands in matters that, in accordance with the constitution, did not come within the purview of the national government.