The proposed amendments provide for the CEC chairperson to be nominated by the President and appointed by two-thirds of CEC members from the CEC members elected by the parliament.The draft amendments essentially establish the status of the chairperson on the same footing as a member of the CEC. Notably, the proposed changes would repeal a requirement for the President to consult with civil society organisations on three nominees for CEC chairperson, instead giving the president unfettered discretion to nominate one CEC member to be chairperson. In light of the perception of limited trust in the independence and impartiality of the CEC such a move away from public consultation in regard to the leadership of the central election body is not advisable. Indeed, bolstering the role of civil society in the nomination process for the CEC chairperson may be key to increasing public trust. Moreover, it should be noted that the presidential post itself does not enjoy full public confidence as a mechanism that is free from political influence in the nominations for posts of the CEC chairperson and non-partisan members, and that alternative nomination mechanisms may garner broader acceptance. However, completely excluding the President of the Republic from the process would require a constitutional amendment.