How long is too long for Chief Minister?

Tuesday 06 June 2017

Jersey’s States are being asked to limit the amount of time anyone can be Chief Minister to just two terms.

Senator Sarah Ferguson, who is bringing the proposal, says “in business there is a tendency to get a little stale during the second period of a contract and to lapse into burnout in a third period, a fact which does support the concept of a limited term.” She also points out that American presidents are limited to two terms.

However, in their comments on the proposition, Privileges and Procedures – who are responsible for the smooth running of the States say “term limits almost invariably apply to the role of President rather than to the role of Prime Minister or Chief Minister. A Prime Minister or Chief Minister normally serves in that capacity for as long as they command the support of their jurisdiction’s legislature.”

They go on to say: “our view is that a democratically elected legislature is entitled to choose any of its members as Chief Minister, and should not be prevented from doing so by arbitrary qualification rules.”