Burundi’s Parliament has postponed debate over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office until this week.

The debate was postponed on Thursday as there were only 81 ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) MPs in the House and only four from the opposition. Burundi has 100 directly elected Members of National Assembly and 54 Senators.

The debate was rescheduled to enable more MPs attend and contribute.

Burundi is facing its worst political crisis since emerging from a 12-year civil war in 2005, worrying neighbours and Western donors that it could degenerate into war.

READ: Burundi tense on Nkurunziza third term push

Some members of President Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDD-FDD have been pushing for a review of the Constitution to remove term limits for the president.

The change is to allow President Nkurunziza, who is coming to the end of his second term in office, to run again in 2015. The move has, however, been bitterly opposed by some opposition parties, civil society groups and religious organisations saying it threatened peace and stability in the country.

Some of the president’s supporters claimed Nkurunziza had technically held only one term in office. They point to the fact that he was elected by a parliamentary committee rather than by popular vote in 2005, suggesting his first term therefore does not count.

In response, opponents insist that a presidential mandate should not be confused with going through an election process.

READ: Burundi MPs reject disputed draft constitution

“His term of office started the day he was sworn in and ends the day when he is replaced by his successor. Nkrunziza has been President since 2005 when he was sworn in,” Burundi Civil Societies President Vital Nshimirimana said.

Mr Nshimirimana said those who want President Nkurunziza to continue in office “have formed a kind of dynasty around him and want to protect their ill-gotten wealth and avoid justice.”

In the 2010 presidential election, President Nkurunziza emerged victorious with 92 per cent of the vote after his opponents withdrew from the election, citing intimidation and claiming the government was planning to rig it.

Around the election period, dozens of opposition party members and affiliates were arrested and even killed, and after the vote, Agathon Rwasa — arguably Nkurunziza’s strongest opponent — went into hiding and returned in last year.

Since the election, opposition parties have continued to be intimidated, a new media law has been passed restricting press freedoms, and the ruling party has allegedly used violence to confine political freedoms and dissenting voices.

This year alone there have been at least 19 violent attacks involving the CNDD-FDD’s youth wing, known as the “Imbonerakure.”

This rise in violence led the UN’s human rights chief, Navi Pillay, to call on the government “to publicly condemn these violent acts to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence are held accountable.”

The US also expressed its concern at “heavy-handed” tactics in Burundi, criticising the police for breaking up an opposition meeting two weeks ago, where they arrested several people and left over a dozen people injured.

READ: US condemns 'heavy-handed tactics' by Burundi police in clashes